INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken to encourage (a) the use of alternative crops and (b) non-farming livelihoods in the Afghan provinces.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: We are providing more than £20 million over three years to our livelihoods programme in Afghanistan. This includes funding a Research in Alternative Livelihoods Project, (£3 million over three years) designed to help the rural poor in Afghanistan build new ways of making a living. Research grants will be given to organisations, which put forward innovative ideas for the development and promotion of new farming and non-farming opportunities in Afghanistan.
	Workshops will be held to share lessons learnt and information gathered by the projects being funded with other rural development projects across Afghanistan. We are also building the capacity of key Ministries to enable the Afghan Government to support the new livelihoods opportunities and engage with the local communities through newly established development councils.

Global Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the UK target figure for the Global Fund his Department has pledged for 2004–05.

Hilary Benn: For the financial year 2004–05 we will provide £30 million and have extended our current commitment through to 2008 bringing our total planned contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS TB and Malaria (GFATM) to US$280 million.
	At the 6th Board meeting of the Global Fund held in October, members of the Board of the Global Fund voted to move to a periodic replenishment model on a voluntary basis for all public donors, complemented by additional ad hoc donations. This is now the agreed system for contributions to the Global Fund and should put the Fund on a firmer financial footing.
	Future UK funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the Fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. We have been working closely with the Fund on all of these issues and made some good progress at the recent Board meeting held in October—particularly on improving the financing system by moving to a more reliable system of replenishment based on commonly agreed performance measures. Good results will encourage increased contributions to the Global Fund—both from the UK and, importantly, from the wider international community and this will help to ensure its future as an effective instrument to tackle these terrible diseases.
	Our contribution to the GFATM reflects only part of the UK's significant contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. At country level, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to strengthening health systems so that better care and drugs can be delivered. Our commitment to HIV/AIDS is demonstrated by the increase in bilateral spending from £38 million in 1997–98 to over £270 million in 2003–04. We are now intensifying our efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the recently published "Call for Action", we state that we will make HIV/AIDS a priority for the extra £320 million the UK will be devoting to development in Africa by 2006. We will also double our core funding of UNAIDS.
	We also contribute to other global partnerships, which work on different aspects of these diseases. For example DFID has contributed £48 million over four years (1999–2003) to Roll Back Malaria, a global partnership which aims to halve the world's malaria burden by 2010. This financial year we are providing some £1.2 million in support for public private partnerships to develop a new generation of affordable drugs required for malaria control. DFID plays a major role in supporting TB control and the adoption of good practice in countries such as India, Russia, Zambia, Nepal, Bolivia and South Africa. The UK is also a member of the coordinating Board of the global Stop TB partnership and in 2002–03 we provided £0.75 million to the partnership.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: There has been no assessment made.

Iraq (Medicines)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on shortages of (a) antisera (anti-snake venom) and (b) anti-cancer medicines in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Assessments by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Iraqi Ministry of Health earlier in the autumn indicated that there are no major shortages of essential medical supplies in Iraq. There are however still reported shortages of some very specialised supplies including antisera (ie anti snake venom) and some anti-cancer medicines.
	A great deal has already been achieved to re-establish drug systems in Iraq. The initial focus was, rightly, on securing adequate supplies of the most essential and most used medicines and vaccines. On 27 October, the Iraqi Ministry of Health estimated that 15,000 tons of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies had been delivered in 150 days. However, new supply systems are not yet fully operational. Until these are in place, including comprehensive accounting and reporting processes to ensure that needs are identified before shortages arise, some problems will continue to occur.
	Work is currently underway in the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop a national drug formulary. This will enable improved sourcing of drugs and a new purchasing structure which will facilitate the arrival of some drugs which were almost non-existent under the old regime, including top-tier cancer drugs and other advanced pharmaceuticals. Work is also being done by the Ministry of Health, CPA and WHO to develop a complete overview of missing drugs and supplies. This is scheduled to finish in three months.

TREASURY

Private Health Care

David Borrow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on financial incentives for private healthcare.

Gordon Brown: I have met BUPA and others. We estimate the cost of financial incentives for private medical insurance, including tax relief on private medical insurance and vouchers for private healthcare, at £2 billion.

Council Tax

Tony McWalter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are available to him to ensure that the resources he makes available to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the 2004–05 settlement for local authorities will generate council tax rises in that year no higher than the rate of inflation.

Paul Boateng: The extra resources for local authorities announced in November and in the pre-Budget report amount to an additional £760 million for local government on top of previously planned increases in grant. Following the provision of these substantial extra resources provided, excessive increases should not be necessary, but the Government have capping powers and are prepared to use them to protect local taxpayers from excessive council tax rises imposed by local authorities.

Information Technology

Richard Bacon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer until what date and for how much money his Department has given financial commitments in relation to the funding of the National Programme for information technology in the health service.

Paul Boateng: Although programmes of this scale do need Treasury approval, the Treasury does not commit funding to individual projects. It is for the Department of Health to ensure that the national programme for information technology is affordable within its budget, without pre-empting the results of future spending reviews.

North-East

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department is taking to promote wealth creation in the North East.

John Healey: All areas of the UK are benefiting from a stable macroeconomic framework, and the measures to promote entrepreneurship and set out in the pre-Budget report.
	Regulatory and VAT reforms could benefit 15,700 businesses in the North East:
	Better access to advice and finance could assist up to 33,000 SMEs in the North East;
	72,000 people have been helped into work in the North East by the New Deal.
	There has also been an indicative allocation rise, from £227 million in this year to £240 million in 2005–06, for the North East regional development agency to promote wealth creation in the North East.

Child Trust Funds

Edward Leigh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with officials from the Inland Revenue regarding the introduction of Child Trust Funds.

Ruth Kelly: I am the Minister with specific responsibility for the Child Trust Fund and I have regular discussions with both the Chancellor and officials of the Inland Revenue on a wide range of issues in connection with the Child Trust Fund and its introduction.

Equitable Life

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: Equitable Life's most recent interim accounts, which reflected its position as at 30 June 2003, confirmed that it remained solvent. However, the interim accounts also refer to the fact that it continues to face fundamental uncertainties over its mis-selling liabilities and, like all market participants, has had to operate in difficult economic conditions.

Health Care Funding

Wayne David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the funding of healthcare through (a) charges and (b) private medical insurance.

Paul Boateng: We have met BUPA and others to hear representations on private medical insurance. The Government believe that the best way to fund healthcare is through general taxation and that delivery of healthcare should be on the basis of clinical need not ability to pay.

International Finance Facility

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed conditionalities to be applied to the proposed International Finance Facility.

John Healey: The International Finance Facility would not impose new conditions on recipient countries.

Child Benefit (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people receive Child Benefit in Scotland, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area.

Ruth Kelly: The latest available figures, for November 2002, are shown in a table which is being placed in the Library. Recent annual changes in the number of families in Scotland with Child Benefit awards have been very small.

Foreign Debt

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set up a realisation fund for outstanding Export Credits Guarantee Department debt.

Paul Boateng: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry informed the House of progress towards establishing the Export Credits Guarantee Department as a Trading Fund on 22 July 2002. Details of the structure of the Trading Fund will be set out in a public consultation document ahead of the move to Trading Fund status.

Progressive Governance Conference

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to public funds was of the Progressive Governance Conference hosted by the United Kingdom in July.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	The Progressive Governance Conference from 11 to 13 July was organised and paid for by the think-tank Policy Network.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) organised the subsequent Summit on 13 and 14 July for the heads of state or government of 14 countries. The final cost of organising the Summit was £251,929. This was met by the FCO. This excludes costs for policing.

TRANSPORT

Airlines (Disciplinary Action)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against airlines for (a) breach of aircraft noise arrival and departure regulations and (b) failure to follow preferred routes into and from Belfast City Airport in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: Noise and track-keeping procedures applicable at Belfast City Airport are a matter for local control by the Airport. The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested, which should be available direct from Belfast City Airport.

Biofuels

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made against the EU target for biofuels to reach two per cent. of the petrol and diesel market by December 2005.

David Jamieson: The EU Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC) requires member states to set indicative targets for sales of biofuels for 2005 and 2010, and provides reference values of 2 per cent. and 5.75 per cent. respectively. Member states must report to the Commission by 1 July 2004, indicating the level of their national indicative targets for 2005.
	Current sales of biofuels in the UK are around two million litres a month, which is approximately 0.05 per cent. of the transport fuels market. This represents a dramatic increase since the position prior to July 2002, when the 20 pence per litre fuel duty incentive for biodiesel came into effect.
	The Department for Transport will be consulting in early 2004 on its plans for implementing the Directive.

British Transport Police

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional money has been given to the British Transport Police in this financial year for their duties under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources have been made available to the British Transport Police to take on anti-terrorist responsibilities since 2001.

Tony McNulty: The resources available to the British Transport Police (BTP) are a matter for the BTP Committee, which overseas the Force and sets its budget. The rail industry is responsible for providing the necessary funding for the Force. In addition to this funding Government has agreed to provide the BTP in 2003–04 with an additional £1.5 million for anti-terrorist response vehicles in London.

Speed Cameras (East Anglia)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there were in (a) Suffolk, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Norfolk and (d) Essex, in each year since 1997; and what amount of revenue was raised in each of those counties.

David Jamieson: Before the safety camera netting off trial began in April 2000 local authorities were not obliged to inform central government about their camera activity. Essex have netted off since 2000 and Cambridgeshire and Norfolk since 2001. The number of camera sites (both fixed and mobile) for each is:
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–2002 2002–2003 
		
		
			 Essex 200 356 342 
			 Cambridgeshire — 15 40 
			 Norfolk — 44 60 
		
	
	Suffolk joined the scheme in April 2003. During the 2003–2004 financial year Suffolk's plans are to install 5 new fixed site camera housings in addition to their existing 3 and will be enforcing 41 sites with mobile camera units.
	Receipts from conditional offer fixed penalty fines for the latest audited years were:
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Essex 1,843,480 3,524,120 
			 Cambridgeshire — 135,420 
			 Norfolk — 160,140 
			 Suffolk — —

A21

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an announcement on the route for the A21 South of Pembury to Flimwell before Parliament rises on 18 December 2003.

David Jamieson: An announcement will be made following full consideration. The Highways Agency is developing proposals for the section of the A21 between Kippings Cross and Lamberhurst. This area is particularly sensitive in environmental terms and it is important to achieve a balance between the impact on the environment and the impact on those living beside the existing route. I hope to make an announcement early in the New Year following further discussions with colleagues in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
	The Highways Agency has not yet started looking at the Lamberhurst to Flimwell section of the A21 and the Lamberhurst bypass is currently under construction.

A421

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support is available from Government to assist returning the stretch of the A421, proposed to be de-trunked around Great Barford, Bedfordshire, following the construction of a by-pass, to its rural character.

David Jamieson: Once de-trunking of the stretch of the A421 at Great Barford, Bedfordshire, has taken place, management becomes the responsibility of Bedfordshire County Council. They will be able to apply through the Local Transport Plan process for funding of any works they feel necessary to reflect the changed character of the road.

A43

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments are planned to improve the safety and capacity of junctions on the stretch of the A43 between junction 15A of the M1 and junction 10 of the M40.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of Highways Agency, Mr. Archie Robertson, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Archie Robertson to Mr. Tim Boswell, dated 18 December 2003
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what further developments are planned to improve safety and the capacity of junctions on the A43 between Junction 15A of the M1 and Junction 10 of the M40.
	There were 3 improvement schemes on the A43: A43 M40—B4031 dualling; A43 Whitfield Turn—Brackley Hatch Improvement and the A43 Silverstone Bypass scheme which were all opened to traffic in September 2002. These schemes have already relieved many of the safety and capacity issues on the A43.
	Further developments include:
	A Route Management Strategy (RMS) is currently being developed for the complete length of the A43 trunk road between M1 J15A and M40 J10 as part of an RMS studying the length of the A43 and A45 route between the M40 and A14.
	An accident analysis study is currently in progress at the A43/M40 J10. This study is due to report in the spring of 2004. A broader ranging study to examine congestion factors at A43/M40 J10 is planned for 2004–05.
	A study into the short term and long-term options to relieve congestion at A43/A5 Tove junction is due to report in 2004.
	Investigation of improved traffic signing and road markings at A43 Blisworth/Tiffield junctions.
	If you would like to discuss any of these issues in more detail, you are welcome to contact the Highways Agency's Route Manager, Steve Davy, 49/53 Goldington Road, Bedford, MK40 3LL or via e-mail at steve.davy@highways.gsi.gov.uk

BAe 146 Aircraft

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he still expects the Air Accident Investigation Branch to publish in December its report of the investigation of a series of cabin air quality incidents involving BAe 146 aircraft and other similar incidents; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Air Accidents Investigation Branch report following the investigation of a series of cabin air quality incidents involving BAe 146 aircraft and similar incidents to other aircraft is now complete, following extensive industry consultation. The report is to be processed for printing and publication in February 2004. Five safety recommendations were made during the course of the investigation.

Departmental Spending

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002 and since then no works of art have either been purchased or sold. All works of art within the Department have been provided on loan from the Government Art Collection.

Drink Driving

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of drivers killed in traffic accidents were over the legal blood alcohol limit, in the last five years for which data are available.

David Jamieson: The following table shows the percentage of drivers or riders killed in traffic accidents over the legal blood alcohol limit over the last five years.
	Percentage of Drivers and riders killed in road accidents over the legal blood alcohol limit
	
		
			  Percentage over limit 
		
		
			 1998 11 
			 1999 9 
			 2000 10 
			 2001 10 
			 2002(1) 11 
		
	
	(1) Provisional data

Drink Driving

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the key characteristics of drink drive casualties are, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender, (c) time of day, (d) month of year and (e) mode of travel; and if he will list the measures he has put in place to combat drinking and driving.

David Jamieson: The most recent road casualty statistics are contained in "Road Casualties Great Britain 2002: Annual Report", a copy of which is in the House Library.
	These show that:
	(a) About one third of all drink-drive casualties are aged 16–24;
	(b) Around one third of drink-drive casualties are female;
	(c) Nearly half of all failed breath tests occur between 10pm and 4am, and around half the drivers killed between those times had a blood alcohol level above the limit;
	(d) There are more drink-drive accidents and casualties during the summer and autumn months than during winter and spring;
	(e) The large majority of casualties in drink-drive accidents are car occupants, with only a small percentage among pedestrians and cyclists.
	As regards anti-drink-driving measures, the law has been changed to make drivers who cause death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs take an extended driving test and the maximum penalty for this offence will shortly be increased from 10 to 14 years' imprisonment. Blood samples may now be taken from unconscious, hospitalised drivers suspected of committing drink-drive offences in order to make it easier to prosecute them. The option of referring drink-drive offenders to rehabilitation courses has been extended to courts throughout Great Britain as a means of reducing re-offending. The Government's drink-driving publicity campaigns are being extended to run at different times and in a variety of media throughout the year, rather than just at Christmas and in the summer.
	In addition, the Government have announced its intention to strengthen police powers to carry out evidential breathtesting at the roadside. We are also planning to introduce mandatory retesting as a penalty for repeat drink-drive offenders and are assessing the potential effectiveness of breath alcohol ignition interlock devices as a further form of intervention to deal with drink-drive offenders.

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department.

Tony McNulty: DfT have only had a separate payroll from ODPM for the last two months, October and November. We can therefore only provide useful data for this period.
	October 2003: 107 staff donated to "Give As You Earn" (GAVE) out of a total headcount of 2049 staff. Percentage of staff = 5.22 per cent. Total charitable donation was £2471.90.
	November 2003: 107 staff donated to GAYE out of a headcount of 2,078 staff. Percentage of staff = 5.15 per cent. Total charitable donation was £2456.90.

Rail Services

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of all journeys was made by rail in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: holding answer 8 December 2003
	Data from the National Travel Survey on main mode of trip show that, over the period 1999–2001, 2.7 per cent. of all trips (excluding walking) by people in England and Wales were by rail (1.7 per cent. by surface rail and 1.0 per cent. by London Underground). Monthly figures are not available.

Speed Cameras

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there were in Essex in each of the last 10 years; how much revenue was raised from them in each year; and how many speeding convictions resulted from them in each year.

David Jamieson: The numbers of fixed speed cameras placed in total in Essex are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year New Camera Sites 
		
		
			 1994 0 
			 1995 9 
			 1996 9 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 2 
			 1999 8 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 28 
			 2002 9 
			 2003 17 
			 Total 82 
		
	
	It is not possible to separately identify Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty Notices issued as a result of motorists detected speeding solely by fixed cameras. The amount of conditional offer fixed penalty receipts raised by fixed and mobile cameras in Essex during the first two years of the netting off safety camera scheme is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Penalty Receipts 
		
		
			 2000 1,843,480 
			 2001 3,524,120

Taxis

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated average cost is of establishing a taxi rank in an urban area (a) at a major transport interchange and (b) at a main road.

Tony McNulty: Taxi ranks in England and Wales are normally appointed by the relevant Licensing Authority. We do not collate information about the cost of appointing taxi ranks.

Transport Funding

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on how funding for transport in London will take account of the projected increase in London's population between 2001 and 2016;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) infrastructure and (b) revenue investment in London transport required to meet London's projected population increase over the next 15 years.

Tony McNulty: The Government's latest spending plans for London were set out in the Ten Year Plan for Transport, and its subsequent progress report "Delivering Better Transport". Spending plans and priorities are regularly reviewed. We will consider the case for additional resources put forward by TfL in their latest business plan in the run-up to next year's spending review, as well as the Mayor's emerging London Plan, which sets out his vision of the development of London over the next 15–20 years.

Transport Funding

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the case put forward for extra funding for Transport for London in the next spending review.

Tony McNulty: We will consider the case for additional resources put forward by TfL in their latest business plan. The Spending Review is expected to conclude in Summer 2004.

U-turns

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the total mileage of roads in the Greater London area and (b) the total mileage of roads in the Greater London area where u-turns were forbidden for the last five years for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The total mileage of roads in the Greater London area is 8,959 miles (14,415 kilometres). Information on the total mileage of roads in the Greater London area where u-turns were forbidden is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service

James Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether members of the Senior Civil Service are required to report an invitation to take up an external appointment in industry and commerce received whilst serving, and to whom; what restrictions they are subject to; and what obligations there are with regard to appointments in industry and commerce taken up once they have retired from their civil service posts.

Douglas Alexander: All civil servants are subject to rules on the acceptance of outside appointments. These rules are set out in Section 4.3 annexes A & B of the Civil Service Management Code, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Civil Service

Howard Flight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new recruits there were to the civil service in each year since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: The number of new recruits to the civil service between 1996–97 and 2001–02 are shown in the following table. The figures shown are on a headcount basis and apply to non-industrial civil servants only. The figures cover information on 98 per cent. of civil servants, based on data collected on individuals and held in a central database. Information on the remainder is only collected in aggregate form.
	More detailed information on entrants to the civil service is published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics', copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2002 data, was published in July 2003.
	
		Entrants to the civil service 1996–97 to 2001–02 -- Non-industrials
		
			   Of which 
			  Total recruits New recruitment Re-instatement tothe civil service 
		
		
			 1996–97 29,000 27,910 1,090 
			 1997–98 26,640 25,970 670 
			 1998–99 29,770 29,230 540 
			 1999–2000 38,700 37,900 800 
			 2000–01 31,530 30,450 1,080 
			 2001–02 38,800 38,290 510 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are on a headcount basis and apply to non-industrials only.
	Source:
	Civil Service Statistics

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Landfill

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, the resulting funds are to be made available to the community waste and recycling sector.

Elliot Morley: A sustainable waste delivery public spending programme, administered by Defra, has been established following the reform of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) in April 2003, to ensure that sustainable alternatives to landfill disposal are widely available. The funds are being administered by the Waste Implementation Programme.
	Plans for expenditure under the Programme are at various stages of development and execution. So far, for example, a review has been commissioned to identify any former LTCS projects which, if continued with Defra funding, would support the Programme's objectives. Similarly, the Programme will fund relevant waste research and community groups will be able to bid for those funds.

Warm Front Initiative

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time taken to supply equipment to households under the Warm Front initiative has been; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has contracts with two scheme managers, Eaga Partnership and Powergen Warm Front Ltd. for the delivery of Warm Front. Heating materials are provided under separate contracts with two suppliers who have sub-contracts with a number of manufacturers.
	Following survey of a property, the average time taken to install measures ranges between 4 to 6 months for heating and 2 to 3 months for insulation.

30-month Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to lift the market restrictions on beef from cattle over 30 months old.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers are still considering the FSA advice on replacing the OTM Rule and the OTM Scheme with testing. Defra has commissioned a study co-ordinated by the MLC (involving all sectors of the meat chain) to investigate the impact on the beef market of any changes to the OTM rule and OTMS exit. The Government are also investigating with the EU Commission the possibility of introducing an underpinning temporary market support measure to insure against any disruption to the market.

Abandoned Cars

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of abandoned cars were set alight in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	In England, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) conducted a Municipal Waste Management Survey in 2001–02 which estimated that 292,900 abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed by local authorities. No data are available for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland for that year.
	An analysis of national fire statistics shows that in 2001–02 an estimated 22,700 fires occurred in vehicles that had previously been abandoned. This estimate represents 8 per cent. of all abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed, as recorded by the Defra survey.

Abandoned Cars

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vehicles she expects to be abandoned in each year before the End of Life Vehicles Directive is fully enforced.

Elliot Morley: It is not possible to estimate how many vehicles will be abandoned in the period leading up to January 2007, from which time producers will be required to take back end of life vehicles at no cost to the owner.
	Vehicle abandonment rates will be dependent on a number of factors, including the price of scrap metal.
	The Government have introduced a range of measures, including the advent of continuous registration in January 2004, which will enable local authorities to tackle abandoned vehicles effectively and make it much harder for last owners to evade responsibility for their vehicles.

Abandoned Cars

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total average cost per car was of disposal of end of life vehicles in the last 12 months for which figures are available

Elliot Morley: Based on estimated disposal costs of between £30 and £50 per vehicle, the total cost of disposal for end of life vehicles in the financial year 2001–02 was between £8.79 million and £14.65 million.

Air Quality

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is undertaking to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide around Heathrow airport.

Ben Bradshaw: The Air Quality Strategy sets out the Government's policies and measures to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide and other key air pollution throughout the UK in general. Various emissions sources may contribute to levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area. The Department is working with other departments, local authorities and other organisations concerned to secure improvements.
	Emissions arising in mainland Europe can contribute significantly to concentrations in London and the South East. Reductions agreed under the National Emission Ceiling Directive in UK and in other member states will cut emissions of oxide of nitrogen and other air pollutants at source.
	Measures to cut emissions from transport include tighter vehicle emission and fuel standards, fuel duty differentials and schemes to promote the wider use of greener fuels and vehicles. The 10-year transport plan sets out measures to improve public transport, to cut congestion and to reduce air pollution. The UK is working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation to reduce emissions from aviation. Under a condition in the planning permission for the Fifth Terminal at Heathrow BAA plc are required to produce and review an action plan to minimise emissions—their Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan was published in April 2002 and is currently being reviewed.
	Under their statutory duties for air quality, the three local authorities adjacent to Heathrow have declared Air Quality Management Areas in the vicinity of the airport and are now developing action plans in order to improve local air quality.

Air Quality

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets her Department has set to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide by (a) 2005 and (b) 2010.

Ben Bradshaw: The national Air Quality Strategy, published in 2000, sets a one hour mean air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide of 200 micrograms per cubic metre not be exceeded more than 18 times per year and an annual mean of 40 micrograms per cubic metre, both to be achieved by 31 December 2005. These objectives, together with objectives for six other air pollutants, are prescribed in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000. Local authorities are required to review and assess the objectives and, where these are unlikely to be met, to work towards the achievement. European Council Directive 99/30/EC sets similar limit values for nitrogen dioxide which members states are required to achieve by 2010. The limit values have been implemented by the Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003.

American Ships (Decommissioning)

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the polychlorinated biphenyls in the US ships intended for decommissioning by Able UK have been analysed to determine whether the waste meets the necessary standards for (a) incineration and (b) landfill.

Elliot Morley: Not yet. Dismantling work on the ships is currently prevented while matters concerning their future are addressed.

American Ships (Decommissioning)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to prevent further US vessels crossing the Atlantic for dismantling in Hartlepool.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The remaining nine vessels in the contract, will remain in the US pending the resolution of US legal action which prevents them leaving the US before April 2004.

American Ships (Decommissioning)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether planning permission for the construction of the dry dock at Able UK was within its period of validity when the American ghost ships were given permission to come to the UK.

Elliot Morley: Whether a grant of planning permission is effective for the development concerned is a matter in the first place for the relevant local planning authority and ultimately the courts.

Animal Welfare

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received asking her to ban the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 4 December 2003
	Following the recommendation in the Farm Animal Welfare Council report on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter, a number of organisations concerned with animal welfare, and individuals, have called for a ban on slaughter of animals without prior stunning in this country.
	Jewish and Muslim groups have suggested that the practice be maintained. We hope to issue our response for consultation early next year.

Animal Welfare

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the UK Government's representatives are pursuing the policy of an eight-hour journey limit for slaughter animals in EU Council working group meetings; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government is seeking a finite journey limit for the transport of animals destined for slaughter and further fattening, in accordance with our policy of replacing the long distance transport of animals for slaughter with a trade in meat. Journey limits cannot be considered in isolation and must be part of an overall package of agreed measures that provide a significant improvement in animal welfare throughout the EU and beyond.

Cattle Testing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for pre-movement testing of cattle for exposure to m.bovis.

Ben Bradshaw: All farmers have been sent a leaflet "Golden rules for a healthy herd", which advises purchasers to check the disease status of cattle prior to purchase.
	In February 2003, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced a review of our bovine tuberculosis strategy. Early in the new year we will be publishing a consultation document which will represent the outcome of the first stage of that review. The consultation document will include proposals for short-term measures for reducing the risk of geographic spread of bovine TB from high to low incidence areas, including consideration of proposals for the pre and/or post movement of cattle.

Cod By-catches

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has commissioned into cod by-catches in nephrops fisheries; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra and the other Fisheries Departments in the UK have sufficient data on the catches of vessels which take both nephrops and cod to be able to demonstrate that curtailing nephrops catches brings minimal benefit to cod stocks. We shall continue to draw to the attention of the European Commission the evidence we have on this.

Common Agricultural Policy

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the Common Agricultural Policy reform options of (a) individual historic payments and (b) regional average payments.

Ben Bradshaw: We received over 800 responses to our consultation letter on CAP reform implementation. Most respondents presented arguments in favour of the individual historic, flat rate or hybrid models of allocating entitlements under the new Single Payment Scheme. We will follow our standing practice for public consultations in placing a list of the respondents in the House Library; making copies of individual responses available in the main Defra library (other than those where the respondent has specifically requested the letter or email be withheld); and providing a summary of views on the Department's website. Ministerial colleagues and officials have also had meetings with a range of stakeholders on this issue.

Crop Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether compensation will be paid by her Department to farmers affected by the over-estimation of the wheat area for this year's harvest; and if she will issue a formal apology to farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: I regret that the error was made. Defra figures are only one of a number of sources of information available to the market and individual buyers and sellers have to use their own commercial judgment. Although there was an initial increase of approximately £5 per tonne immediately following publication of corrected figures, this had reduced by about half within a few days with the price back on trend. This reflects the UK's position as a price taker rather than a price maker in an international commodity market. UK production is only about 13 per cent. of EU production, and EU production is just over 20 per cent. of world production. On average, however, wheat prices this year are now some £50 per tonne higher than at the same period last year. They have risen steadily throughout the marketing season in response to serious reductions in supply elsewhere in Europe as a result of heat and drought in the summer. This has also coincided with a tighter global market which has seen world wheat prices at their highest levels in recent years. There was no discernable effect on prices when the provisional agricultural census results were published in the middle of September.

Crop Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being taken by the Department to ensure that the estimation of crop areas is accurate; and what assessment has been made of the causes of the error in estimation this year.

Ben Bradshaw: The error in the estimation of crop areas this year was caused by unintentional double counting of holdings during the process of combining IACS crop areas with June Census returns. The computer program that extracts the necessary data from the IACS returns has now been rewritten to ensure that this error will not be repeated. In addition, the existing procedures for checking results will be strengthened and a risk assessment process will be instituted to ensure that potential problems are identified. Figures derived from surveys are always subject to some uncertainty, particularly when provisional results are issued, but every attempt is made to minimise this.

Crop Areas

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that errors in estimation of the wheat area harvest are detected.

Ben Bradshaw: The error in the estimation of crop areas this year was caused by unintentional double counting of holdings during the process of combining IACS crop areas with June Census returns. The computer program that extracts the necessary data from the IACS returns has now been rewritten to ensure that this error will not be repeated. In addition, the existing procedures for checking results will be strengthened and a risk assessment process will be instituted to ensure that potential problems are identified. Figures derived from surveys are always subject to some uncertainty, particularly when provisional results are issued, but every attempt is made to minimise this.

Crop Areas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department takes to ensure the correct estimate of each year's wheat harvest is made.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 11 December 2003
	Estimating the size of the annual wheat harvest depends on information from a number of different sources gathered over time. A provisional estimate of planted area is normally published in September based on a combination of census and IACS data. Provisional yield information in the form of a production estimate is normally published in October. Updated figures are normally published in November and January respectively.
	A number of checks are in place to verify the information coming in from farmers, the processes and the credibility of the aggregate results. Unfortunately, the internal error in the calculation of this year's planted area figures was only discovered by Defra statisticians after the area results had been published, and a corrected Statistical Notice was therefore published on 1 December.

Dairy Industry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the help available to dairy farmers to increase innovation.

Ben Bradshaw: Product innovation is, of course, for individual businesses to consider in line with the demands of the market. Nevertheless, Government can play a role in promoting innovation.
	Under the auspices of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, chaired by my Noble Friend Lord Whitty, the Milk Development Council has been working with other members to establish a Market Development and Innovation sub-group. The objective of this group is to stimulate and co-ordinate innovation for the development of British dairy products by creating a forum for the exchange of market information and ideas that anticipate consumer needs. The group will also consider how barriers to innovation might be addressed.
	Furthermore, the Agriculture Development Scheme (ADS) offers grants for the various activities associated with the marketing of produce, including dairy products, and welcomes innovative applications. Support is also available under the England Rural Development Programme, which encourages the development of new products and markets through the Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant.

Dairy Industry

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading to seek clarification of competition rules regarding the production, processing and retailing of milk.

Ben Bradshaw: The application of competition rules in the milk sector was discussed between Ministers and officials in Defra, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading during 2002. These discussions were prompted by comments on the impact of competition rules on collaborative ventures made in the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. The outcome of the discussions is reflected in the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food and in its Response to the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, both of which can be found on Defra's website at: http://defraweb/farm/sustain/newstrategy/index.htm

Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many import permits her Department (a) granted and (b) refused for species listed on (i) Appendix I and (ii) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997, broken down by species.

Elliot Morley: This Department issues over 5,000 import permits each year for a wide range of CITES controlled species. We do not keep precise statistics of the numbers refused but we believe that approximately 1 per cent. are refused on scientific grounds with a further 2 per cent. to 3 per cent. refused on administrative grounds (e.g. failure to supply outstanding information or refusal to pay the fee).
	The breakdown between Appendix I and Appendix II species is not readily obtainable either. However, Annex A and Annex B of the relevant EC Regulation (338/97) broadly equate to CITES Appendices I and II. In recent years 11 per cent. of the permits issued have been for Annex A species and 89 per cent. for Annex B species.

Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department charges for a permit to import species listed on (a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Elliot Morley: The charges are as follows:
	
		
			  Fee 
		
		
			 Plants and Corals  
			 Application for fewer than five genera where the import, export or re-export is for commercial purposes £7 per genus 
			 Application in respect of five or more genera where the import, export and re-export is for commercial purposes £5 per genus 
			 Application in respect of any number of genera where the import, export or re-export is not for commercial purposes £5 per genus 
			 Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Others  
			 Application for fewer than five genera where the import, export or re-export is for commercial purposes £10 per species 
			 Application in respect of five or more genera where the import, export and re-export is for commercial purposes £8 per species 
			 Application in respect of any number of genera where the import, export or re-export is not for commercial purposes £5 per species

Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Article 10 certificates her Department granted for the sale of species listed on (a) Appendix I and (b) Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in each year from 1997.

Elliot Morley: Article 10 certificates are issued under EC Regulation 338/97, which lists all CITES species in Annexes which broadly equate to the CITES Appendices. Annex A is therefore broadly equivalent to CITES Appendix I and Annex B to Appendix II. The Regulation requires the issue of Article 10 certificates only for Annex A species. The numbers of certificates produced for the years in question have been:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 5,738 
			 1998 16,838 
			 1999 14,498 
			 2000 14,308 
			 2001 18,754 
			 2002 16,230 
			 2003 (2)16,150 
		
	
	(2) To date.
	The 1997 figure is significantly lower than the others because the Regulation did not come into effect until 1 June in that year.

Energy Consumption

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of new technologies to help reduce the demand for energy consumption.

Ben Bradshaw: The Energy White Paper recognised the need to promote innovation to find new ways to save energy in the future. We agreed with the Chief Scientific Adviser's Energy Research Report that energy efficiency should be a priority area for investment in research and development and an inter-departmental high-level group, on which the Energy Saving Trust and The Carbon Trust are also represented, is co-ordinating work in this field.
	The Carbon Trust has established the Low Carbon Innovation Programme, launched in 2002, which aims to accelerate the development of new and emerging low carbon and energy efficient technologies in the UK and provides funding across the low carbon innovation process—research, demonstration and development—by investing in projects and leveraging in further funding.

Environmental Regulations

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the cost and enforcement of EU environmental regulations in (a) the UK, (b) other EU countries and (c) applicant states.

Elliot Morley: In 1998, this Government announced that no proposal for legislation, which has a potential to impact on business, the voluntary sector or charities, should be considered by Ministers without a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). Departments are required to undertake RIAs for all proposed regulations and policies, including environmental regulations, that impose a burden or realise a benefit to business, charities and the voluntary sector whether initiated by the UK or EU. The RIA includes an analysis of the costs of implementation and enforcement. It is an ex-ante appraisal and it is an explicit requirement that consideration is given to monitoring and review at the appraisal stage.
	The RIA process will be strengthened further by the National Audit Office (NAO) taking on a new role as an independent evaluator of selected RIAs. The NAO will focus on the quality of analysis in the RIAs and the thoroughness with which the RIAs have been undertaken. The findings and recommendations of best practice will be fed back to Departments.
	All RIAs published by Government Departments since January 2001 can be accessed via the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit website (http://www. cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/index.htm).
	The responsibility for assessing the cost and enforcement of EU environmental regulations in other member states rests with individual member states.
	In June 2002 the European Commission adopted an Action Plan for Better Regulation, in which it committed itself to the introduction of a two-stage impact assessment process, covering the economic, social and environmental impacts of policy proposals, the phased implementation of which started earlier in 2003. Impact assessment is to be applied to all proposals listed in the Annual Policy Strategy or Work Programme. All proposals will be subject to preliminary assessment, with some proposals being selected for extended assessment.
	The European Commission produces an annual survey on the implementation and enforcement of environmental Community law within existing member states. The 4th edition, which covers 2002, is now available and can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int). Comparable data on the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation in the Accession States will also be compiled once they join the EU.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Alun Michael: Yes. As explained by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 December 2002, Official Report, column 92W, the Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible within the boundaries set by Government's value for money policy and the EC procurement rules.
	Defra's policy is to work with the department's catering service providers so that fair trade tea and coffee is available to staff as customers and can be served at official meetings and conferences when appropriate.
	To date, Defra and its caterers have arranged for fair trade products to be available at nine of its 11 staff restaurants, including Defra's HQ and a number of regional offices in Guildford, York and Crewe. At each of these sites the teas and coffees served as official hospitality are fair trade products. Efforts to identify potential for serving more fair trade food products are continuing.

Farm Animal Welfare

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's plans to regulate farm animal welfare through Codes of Practice that have been recommended by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra takes account of advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council when formulating and revising Codes of Practice relating to farm animal welfare. We are in the process of revising Codes of Practice for the welfare of red meat and white meat animals at slaughter and killing. They will be published next year. We also hope to publish revised Codes of Recommendations for the welfare of ducks, goats and turkeys by next summer.

Farmer Subsidies

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average subsidy to eligible farmers in (a) England and Wales, (b) Yorkshire and The Humber, (c) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (d) North Lincolnshire is in 2003–04.

Ben Bradshaw: The table shows direct payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy in the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund 2003 year (16 October 2002 to 15 October 2003). Some farmers may also have received market support payments, though these are available to traders as well. In addition, farmers benefited from the effect of the market regimes and import tariffs, which kept the price of many commodities in the EU higher than elsewhere. Questions regarding payment of direct grants and subsidies in Wales should be directed to the devolved authorities in Wales.
	
		
			 Area Number of farmers receiving subsidy Total subsidy (£) Average subsidy per farmer (£) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) England 88,978 1,539,639,160 17,304 
			 (b) Yorkshire and The Humber 10,506 191,985,666 18,274 
			 (c) East Riding of Yorkshire 1,650 40,551,373 24,577 
			 (d) North Lincolnshire 518 14,482,414 27,958

Fisheries

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will lead the UK delegation at the December Fisheries Council.

Ben Bradshaw: I will lead the UK delegation at the discussions on fisheries at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council together with Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Development in the Scottish Executive and Ian Pearson, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.

Fisheries

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the progress of trials of active acoustic deterrents; when the trials will be completed; and when she expects to make an assessment of their effectiveness;
	(2)  what type of fisheries will be covered by active acoustic deterrents deployment trials; over what timescale the trials will be conducted; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is grant aiding a trial by the Sea Fish Industry Authority to assess the technical viability of using pingers on gill nets to prevent porpoise bycatch. The first phase has just been completed and the next phase with pingers modified to improve performance and to assess longer term durability is likely to start in February 2004. The timescale for this trial has not yet been fixed. The results will be presented in a Seafish Technical Report.
	The findings to date of these trials have been reviewed at a meeting of interested parties, including pinger manufacturers, under the auspices of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the protection of small cetaceans. This review has helped to inform the next stage of the trials. The trials will also be useful in determining the next steps of the UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy on which I hope to make an announcement early in the New Year, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations.

Flame Retardants

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the review of Deca-BDE; and what advice she has received on potential alternatives.

Alun Michael: We have concluded the environmental risk assessment of deca-BDE carried out under the Existing Substances Regulation (EC) 793/93 and forwarded it to other Member States. Initial discussion has agreed that for the standard risk assessment, no further information nor risk management measures are needed. However, further data, not mandated by the Regulation, is available and this cannot be ignored. This information is of concern but it is not possible at this stage to conclude that there is a clear and unambiguous risk. It was therefore further agreed that the UK should recommend a monitoring programme, which will provide information as to the changing levels of deca-BDE in the environment. We are expecting levels to go down as industry controls its emissions more effectively. The environmental risk assessment is still being discussed within the European process and the final conclusion will ultimately be for the Community.
	The examination of alternatives (looking at both efficacy and cost) is a standard part of the next step of this process when looking to see if any risk reduction measures are appropriate. In the case of deca-BDE, some of this work has already been carried out on a precautionary basis—at present a ready, safer alternative has not been identified.

Game Birds

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she plans to introduce provisions on the use of bits and specs for game birds in the Animal Welfare Bill;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of companies which use bits on game birds;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the (a) costs and (b) benefits of employing specs on game birds to minimise bird-on-bird aggression and egg-eating.

Ben Bradshaw: One of the opportunities provided by the proposed Animal Welfare Bill would be the possibility of introducing codes of practice, including a code on the rearing of gamebirds, which would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The codes would support a statutory duty to promote the welfare of animals kept by man. The code on gamebirds would better regulate the methods, including bits and specs, used in rearing. It is not known how many companies currently use bits and what the costs and benefits of employing specs are.

Game Birds

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to address mistreatment of game birds.

Ben Bradshaw: Gamebirds are afforded protection under the Game (Scotland) Act 1772, the Game Act 1831, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, Protection of Animals Act (Scotland) 1912 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The proposed Animal Welfare Bill provides an opportunity to modernise the law as far as gamebird rearing in England and Wales is concerned.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) In 2002–03, 50 per cent. of primary legislation sponsored by the Department was introduced to implement EU requirements.
	(b) During the same period, in the case of secondary legislation my Department was responsible for the making of 120 Statutory Instruments, of which, 57 per cent. were introduced to implement EU requirements.

Nitrogen Dioxide (Heathrow)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who are exposed to nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area; and how many people she estimates will be exposed in (a) 2005 and (b) 2010.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not carried out an assessment of the number of people exposed to nitrogen dioxide in the Heathrow area. Assessments have been carried out on the current and future concentrations of pollutants.
	Assessments of air quality impacts in the vicinity of Heathrow have been undertaken by the local authorities and by BAA plc. Having declared Air Quality Management Areas in the Heathrow area, the local authorities are developing action plans to reduce emissions. Some work has been undertaken on future predictions, for example by the London Borough of Hillingdon in relation to 2005. These assessments focus upon pollutant concentrations relative to limit values rather than exposed population.
	In the context of air quality work supporting decisions to be announced in the forthcoming Aviation White Paper, the Department for Transport has run air quality emissions scenarios out as far as 2020. I understand this work will be made public following the publication the Aviation White Paper.

Organophosphates

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the database of government-funded projects examining ill health and organophosphates prepared by the Central Science Laboratory in York to be publicly available; and if she will make a statement on research progress relating to organophosphates.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 4 December 2003
	The database being prepared by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) covers the whole range research into OPs, both Government sponsored and privately funded. This database can be accessed via the CSL website (www.csl.gov.uk/ops).
	Up-to-date information on the Government sponsored research into possible health effects of exposure to OP, including the findings so far, is available on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's website (www.vmd.gov.uk). Some of this research was delayed in starting by practical problems arising from the FMD outbreak. The full results of this research are now not expected until 2006/07. These will all be peer-reviewed as a quality check before publication.
	The Veterinary Products Committee, the independent, expert advisory committee on the safety of veterinary medicines, has considered all of the results available to date and has concluded that none of these justify any additional regulatory action on the current authorisations for organophosphate sheep dips.

Over Thirty Month Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the options for the lifting of the Over Thirty Month scheme with regard to (a) biodiversity, (b) prime meat market prices, (c) the viability of the beef market, (d) the viability of British meat and meat products and (e) British meat exports and (f) Government finances.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers are still considering the FSA advice on replacing the OTM Rule with testing. No direct assessment has been made on the impact of possible changes to the OTM Scheme on biodiversity although it is recognised that the marketing of slower maturing native breeds suited to environmental management would be facilitated by any changes to the Scheme.
	Defra has commissioned a study co-ordinated by the MLC (involving all sectors of the meat chain) to investigate the impact on the beef market of any changes to the OTM rule and OTMS exit. It is expected that the impact of a re-introduction of OTM beef would be reduced by import substitution and that the effect on prime beef prices would be minimal once the market adjusted. However the Government are investigating with the EU Commission the possibility of introducing an underpinning temporary market support measure to insure against any disruption to the market. British meat and meat products would be expected to benefit from the increased availability of competitively priced good quality lean beef, domestically produced.
	EFSA is currently considering whether export controls on UK beef from cattle born after August 1996 could be reduced.

Packaging

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives her Department is promoting to minimise unnecessary packaging and use of wrapping paper during the Christmas period.

Elliot Morley: Minimisation of packaging needs tackling throughout the year not just at Christmas. The Advisory Committee on packaging has recently set up a new Task Force to look at the potential for further reductions in the amount of packaging used by businesses. The Committee will report its findings to Ministers early next year.
	We would encourage people to recycle wrapping paper where possible.

Printer Cartridges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on whether printer cartridges are included in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 December 2003
	The WEEE Directive applies to whole products placed onto the market and not to individual components, sub-assemblies or consumables, for example, computer memory chips and graphics cards. The Government believes that printer cartridges fall into this cadre of items and are not separately covered. The eco-design provisions of the WEEE Directive would therefore not apply to them. However, these kinds of item would be included when retained within whole products, like a printer, when these become waste and are separately collected for recovery and recycling.

Recycling (Christmas)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of (a) Christmas cards and (b) Christmas trees that were recycled in 2003; what support she provides to local authorities with regard to the recycling of Christmas cards; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 December 2003
	The Department does not collect separate data on either of these two recyclates.
	Defra does support and take part in a Christmas Card Recycling Scheme run by the Woodland Trust that recycled 40 million Christmas cards (800 tonnes) in 2003. The charity Environ estimate that 750,000 Christmas trees were recycled during 2003 (approximately 12.5 per cent. of the total sold).
	Defra also provides a range of support for local authorities to help improve their recycling rates for all types of household waste.

Set Aside

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the EC proposal to recommend that set aside rates be reduced.

Ben Bradshaw: The European Commission has proposed that the rate of compulsory arable set-aside be reduced from 10 per cent. to 5 per cent. for the 2004–05 EU marketing year. The proposal has been made in order to try to restore a more normal balance of supply in response to serious reductions in this year's cereals harvest as a result of prolonged hot weather and drought in Central and Southern Europe in the summer.
	The Commission estimates that the measure will increase the supply of cereals by around 7 million tonnes. It is not clear what the impact will be in the UK. There is normally around 400,000 hectares of land in compulsory set-aside each year, with a further and more variable area being set aside voluntarily. In theory, up to 200,000 hectares of additional land could be cropped in 2004 increasing UK cereal production by 1.4 million tonnes based on average yields. In practice, however, the additional output is likely to be significantly lower than this as the proposal has been made after many farmers have finalised their cropping plans for next season.
	Reducing the rate of compulsory set-aside may also have some impact on the environmental benefits which can be derived from uncultivated land, though it is difficult to assess this without knowing what land may be put back into cropping.

Single Farm Payment Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will implement the Single Farm Payment Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We have already announced our intention to implement the new Single Payment Scheme in 2005, which is the earliest possible date provided for in the June CAP reform agreement. We are currently considering responses to a consultation exercise on how entitlements to payments under the scheme should be allocated.

Snowfall

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what historical data (a) her Department and (b) other publicly-funded bodies collate on snowfall; and what the predicted future annual number of days when there is snowfall are for (i) London and (ii) Edinburgh in (A) 2010, (B) 2020, (C) 2030 and (D) 2050.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 December 2003
	The Department does not collate historical data on snowfall. However, the Met Office, which is an agency of the Ministry of Defence, records daily snowfall frequency and amount at 80 stations in the UK. Most of these records go back to 1971.
	In April 2002, the Department published new "Climate Change Scenarios for the UK". These scenarios include information on total winter snowfall amounts, but not number of snowfall days. The scenarios show that snowfall in the London and Edinburgh areas could be reduced by between 55 per cent. and 90 per cent. by the 2080s (compared to the 1961–1990 baseline), depending on the degree of future climate change. Scaling these figures back to the years in question gives the following estimates of the reduction in snowfall amount at both locations, depending on whether there is a low or high degree of climate change:
	
		
			  Percentage reduction 
		
		
			 2010 17–30 
			 2020 22–38 
			 2030 27–47 
			 2050 37–65 
		
	
	These figures represent general trends, not predictions of the amount of snowfall in specific years, which will be greatly influenced by natural year-to-year variability, particularly in the first few decades of the century. Further information is available in the full report in the Libraries of both Houses.

Snowfall

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the predicted changes in the frequency of the number of days when there is snowfall in the United Kingdom under future scenarios of climate change; and what regional variations were identified in that assessment.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 15 December 2003
	In April 2002, the Department published new "Climate Change Scenarios for the UK". The scenarios do not contain an analysis of the changes in the number of snowfall days, but show that climate change will cause the amount of snowfall to decline significantly throughout the UK in the future. By the 2080s, large areas of the UK are likely to experience quite long sequences of snowless winters. Coastal areas and the English lowlands are likely to show the largest percentage reductions (up to 90 per cent. or more by the 2080s compared to 1961–1990 baseline), while the Scottish Highlands and parts of Northern Ireland may experience smaller percentage reductions (50 per cent. or less).
	In addition, in July 2003 the Met Office published climate change scenarios for small islands within the British-Irish Council region. These include the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Western Isles, Orkney Islands, and Shetland Isles.
	Both reports are in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sustainable Development Summit

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what follow-up action has been taken since the Sustainable Development summit in Johannesburg; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 1 September 2003, Official Report, column 845W, which noted that the Government would be presenting an overview of progress against commitments made at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). That progress report, which covers actions across Government, has now been published and is available at http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/eac-wssd/progress.htm

Turkey Farms

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether any cases of the liver disease blackhead have been detected in commercial turkey farms in the UK this year;
	(2)  what measures her Department has taken to protect commercial turkey farmers from the liver disease blackhead.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 11 December 2003
	Blackhead is not a notifiable disease so it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for the number of cases. Of the cases diagnosed by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in 2003 most have been in back-yard turkey flocks of under 100 birds, with a very small number of turkey flocks of under 2,000 birds also affected. We are not aware of disease in any larger turkey flocks.
	Following the recent withdrawal of the only remaining authorised medication for the treatment of birds infected with Blackhead, the UK is pressing the EU Commission to keep the disease situation under review with a view to adopting remedial measures if the disease risk increases significantly.
	Good biosecurity is a key measure in the prevention of a number of poultry diseases including Blackhead. To reinforce this message, Defra has placed on its website guidance for poultry producers to minimise the risk of Blackhead. In addition VLA Regional Laboratories have circulated an update on blackhead including advice on control to veterinary practices.

Waste Management

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she plans to reduce spending pressures on local government in respect of waste next year, as announced in the statement by the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), Official Report, 19 November 2003, column 786.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 December 2003
	We have announced that we are putting back the start date of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme to 2005. This is consistent with the views expressed by local authorities in the recent consultation on the implementation of the scheme. It will reduce spending pressures by around £10m overall.
	The Department is looking urgently at the options for meeting the remainder of its commitment to relieve spending pressures, and will be making an announcement shortly.

Waste Management

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department gave his constituent, Mr. Ross Donovan, in relation to his company's compliance with Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste when he first contacted her Department; when this advice changed; and what advice her Department is currently able to give.

Elliot Morley: The Department's first contact with Mr. Donovan, (who is the hon. Member's constituent and not the Secretary of State's) and his company was on 19 September 2003. Mr. Donovan had previously had discussions with the Environment Agency and attended a meeting at the Agency's Huntingdon office on 24 July 2003. During that meeting, Mr. Donovan was advised that there was a possibility that his plant would be subject to the Waste Incineration Directive and the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (the PPC Regulations). Following the meeting, this advice was confirmed in a letter to Mr. Donovan of 13 August 2003. The letter also stated that the plant may fall within the regulatory remit of the appropriate local authority in England and Wales or the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), depending on where the plant would be located.
	Prior to transposition of the Waste Incineration Directive at the end of 2002 it was difficult for the Environment Agency to be able to provide firm advice to every operator on whether they would be subject to it However, my Department consulted on draft Regulations and Directions during the summer of 2002. The transposition of the Waste Incineration Directive and the publication by my Department of draft "Guidance on the Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste" was publicised through articles in the trade press and at a ministerial press conference in January 2003.
	A group of my officials visited Mr. Donovan on 12 November 2003 to consider his case, at which time he was again advised that it was possible that his plant would be subject to the Waste Incineration Directive and the PPC Regulations. Following the visit and further consideration of Mr. Donovan's plant by my officials working with the Environment Agency, I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the outcome.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure that the polluter pays principle applies to the (a) collection of and (b) management of municipal waste.

Elliot Morley: The Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC as amended by 91/156/EEC) sets out a range of measures on the management of waste—including its collection and disposal. These measures include Article 8 which requires that "any holder of waste has it handled by a private or public waste collector"; and Article 15 which provides that "In accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle, the cost of disposing of waste must be borne by the holder who has it handled by a waste collector."
	The Government have put a range of measures in place under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 to comply with the Directive's requirements. These measures include the arrangements for the collection and disposal of household waste by waste collection and disposal authorities. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangements is met through taxation and charges. Most commercial and industrial waste is collected and disposed of by the private sector under arrangements which comply with the Directive. The cost of collection and disposal under these arrangement is met through charges.
	Municipal waste includes household waste and any other wastes collected by a waste collection authority or its agents under Part II of the 1990 Act (Waste Strategy 2000 page 198 (Cm 4693–2)).

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 10 local authorities had the (a) highest and (b) lowest recycling rates in the last year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The percentage of household waste recycled and composted by the 10 highest and lowest performing local authorities, for which the most recent data available are 2001–02, is presented in the following table.
	
		
			 Local authority Percentage of household waste recycled and composted in 2001–02 
		
		
			 Daventry District Council 43.7 
			 Lichfield District Council 32.8 
			 Eastleigh Borough Council 29.5 
			 Forest Heath District Council 29.2 
			 St. Edmundsbury Borough Council 29.1 
			 Dorset County Council 27.2 
			 Chiltern District Council 26.8 
			 Melton Borough Council 26.1 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council 24.9 
			 New Forest District Council 23.6 
			 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council 2.2 
			 Liverpool City Council Metropolitan Borough Council 2.1 
			 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council 2.0 
			 Bolsover District Council 1.9 
			 North Cornwall District Council 1.8 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 1.6 
			 Cannock Chase Council 1.6 
			 Sunderland City Council 1.3 
			 Hackney London Borough 1.2 
			 London Corporation 0.1 
		
	
	(3) Municipal Waste Management Survey 2001–02.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what high temperature incineration capacity she estimates the UK will require when provisions of the Landfill Directive relating to hazardous waste are implemented in the UK.

Elliot Morley: Current high temperature incineration capacity (HTI) in the UK is approximately 110,000 tonnes per annum. Work undertaken for the Hazardous Waste Forum suggests that the demand for HTI is likely to increase, but that the level of any increase is dependent on a number of factors, not least future arisings of hazardous waste. The Forum continues to keep these issues under review, in particular through the treatment and capacity task force.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional (a) recycling, (b) composting, (c) energy recovery and (d) hazardous waste treatment capacity will be required in England to achieve compliance with the Landfill Directive in (a) 2009, (b) 2013 and (c) 2020.

Elliot Morley: Waste Strategy 2000 provided five estimates of waste management options over the period 2000 to 2020. A 'base case' was modelled so that the additional cost of meeting the landfill targets for biodegradable waste and the waste strategy goals could be calculated. The other four models provided different mixes of recycling, composting and incineration and the additional capacity required for those facilities under each option.
	Cases 3 and 4 (increasing levels of recycling and composting with some incineration with energy recovery) were designed to meet the waste strategy targets, as well as the requirements of the Landfill Directive.
	The actual figures for additional capacity can be seen in annex C in Part Two of Waste Strategy 2000 (table C8 on page 194). A copy of the strategy is in the House of Common's Library and can also be accessed through the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm.
	Future hazardous waste treatment capacity required under the Landfill Directive depends in part on future arisings of hazardous waste. Currently some 5 million tonnes of hazardous waste is consigned each year in England and Wales. Analysis in support of the Hazardous Waste Forum shows that future arisings of hazardous waste will be affected, among other matters, by future levels of waste minimisation balanced against changes to the hazardous waste list. Nevertheless, the Landfill Directive requires all hazardous waste to be treated prior to landfill or to be dealt with in an alternative treatment option altogether, such as high temperature incineration or co-incineration. It is clear that new treatment plants for hazardous waste will be required, for example to solidify waste, and to enable hazardous waste to meet the landfill waste acceptance criteria under the Directive. The Hazardous Waste Forum is considering these issues and requirements in detail through its treatment and capacity task force.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) wood, (d) plastic and (e) metal containers were recycled by community organisations in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002; what the average cost per tonne was; and if she will make a statement on how their performance was audited.

Elliot Morley: As part of Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey, local authorities are asked to submit any data on recycling carried out by community organisations in their area, that they are aware of. The responses for 2000–01 and 2001–02 are shown in the table. The data are not believed to be comprehensive.
	
		
			  Voluntary/private collections 
			 Material recycled in thousand tonnes 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Paper and card 24 13 
			 Glass 1 1 
			 Compost 1 1 
			 Scrap metal and white goods 0 0 
			 Textiles 4 1 
			 Cans 0 0 
			 Plastics 0 0 
			 Co-mingled 2 4 
			 Other (inc. oils, batteries, aluminium foil, books and shoes) 4 14 
			 Total 35 34 
		
	
	The Community Recycling Network, a national umbrella organisation for community and not-for-profit waste management groups claims that their members account for approximately 7 per cent. of the total material collected from households for recycling in the UK.
	This Department does not collect the requested cost data nor does it audit the performance of community waste organisations.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the waste management sector on incorporating combined heat and power in new developments.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department recognises that CHP has a part to play in effective waste management, as demonstrated in the recent changes to the criteria applied to waste PFI projects. These were in direct response to the views of the market and the waste management sector will be invited to contribute to a wider review of the criteria which is now in train.
	We also provide direct support to energy from waste projects through our Community Energy programme, delivering community heating mainly through the use of CHP. Meetings with the waste management sector have resulted in five energy from waste schemes receiving more than £2.5m or over 10 per cent. of the funding awarded.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money has been spent on collecting and managing municipal waste in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and how much on average it cost to collect and manage one tonne of municipal waste in the UK in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: Annual net current expenditure by English waste authorities for providing the services of collection and disposal of municipal waste are taken from annual ODPM Local Authority Revenue Outturn Returns. Annual municipal waste arisings are taken from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey.
	The data are listed as follows are for the financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02 and are for English local authorities. An average net cost of managing one tonne of municipal waste has been estimated based on this data. Financial data exclude any capital charges.
	
		
			 Financial year (a) Municipal waste arisings (thousand tonnes) (b) Net current expenditure (£000) (b/a) Cost to manage one tonne of municipal waste (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 25,711 1,198,880 46.63 
			 1998–99 26,337 1,281,919 48.67 
			 1999–2000 27,480 1,423,278 51.79 
			 2000–01 28,057 1,521,338 54.22 
			 2001–02 28,823 1,653,856 57.38

Waste Management

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances solid polychlorinated biphenyls can be (a) landfilled and (b) incinerated.

Elliot Morley: Wastes contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (RGBs) can only be landfilled where the authorisation allows it. Limit values apply to all deposits of PCB contaminated waste and are given in Government guidance (Waste Management Paper No 6—"Polychlorinated Biphenyls"). Additionally, implementation of the Landfill Directive will subject any solid PCB contaminated waste to the pre-treatment requirements and waste acceptance criteria.
	Similarly, PCBs can be incinerated in hazardous waste incinerators which have been authorised to burn such wastes. These incinerators are required to meet the stringent emission limits specified in the Hazardous Waste Incineration Directive (94/67/EC).

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the rate of landfill tax is in other member states of the European Union where such a tax is levied.

Elliot Morley: The Strategy Unit Report 'Waste not, Want not' published in November 2002 contained the following table:
	
		
			 European Union state Tax rates (£/tonne) 
		
		
			 Austria 18–54 
			 Belgium 3–14 
			 Denmark 28 
			 Finland 9 
			 France 4 
			 Germany None 
			 Greece None 
			 Ireland None 
			 Italy 0.6–16 
			 Luxembourg None 
			 Netherlands 8–40 
			 Portugal None 
			 Spain None 
			 Sweden 17 
			 UK 2–13 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are approximate due to rounding. Figures represent the latest years available and may not be consistent between countries.
	Sources:
	OECD, ENDS and Austrian Federal Environment Agency, 2002

Water Bills

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average household water bill was in (a) England and (b) each English region in each financial year since 1996–97.

Elliot Morley: Water bills and sewerage bills are set separately by each water and sewerage company and water company in England and Wales. The boundaries of these companies do not conform to the boundaries between England and Wales nor to the boundaries between English regions. It is therefore not possible to provide the information on exactly the basis sought.
	The average household water and sewerage bills in England and Wales in each financial year since 1996–97 are set out as follows.
	
		£
		
			  Average household water bill Average household sewerage bill 
		
		
			 1996–97 101 117 
			 1997–98 106 123 
			 1998–99 112 131 
			 1999–2000 112 134 
			 2000–01 103 116 
			 2001–02 105 119 
			 2002–03 110 121 
			 2003–04 111 125 
		
	
	The following tables set out average water bills and average sewerage bills for each company in England and Wales for the same period.
	
		Average household water bill -- £
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage companies   
			 Anglian 128 126 124 116 107 110 113 116 
			 Hartlepool 88 91 96 95 — — — — 
			 Dwr Cymru 128 135 136 134 126 123 124 122 
			 North West 93 99 101 103 103 107 109 118 
			 Northumbrian 96 98 102 100 88 88 88 90 
			 Essex and Suffolk 116 120 127 129 107 112 111 113 
			 Severn Trent 88 97 105 113 106 108 108 112 
			 South West 127 129 125 119 109 110 115 121 
			 Southern 94 101 105 111 91 91 90 91 
			 Thames 88 93 99 102 95 99 104 106 
			 Wessex 114 118 124 124 107 112 113 119 
			 Yorkshire 104 105 108 111 100 103 104 110 
			 York 87 89 93 96 87 90 90 94 
			  
			 Water only companies   
			 Bournemouth and W. Hampshire 94 97 103 102 99 98 101 102 
			 Bristol 100 104 108 111 101 105 106 107 
			 Cambridge 103 106 106 98 86 87 90 94 
			 Cholderton 126 130 151 136 130 141 153 143 
			 Dee Valley — — — 120 107 106 104 106 
			 Chester 106 108 108 — — — — — 
			 Wrexham 130 129 129 — — — — — 
			 Folkestone and Dover 114 118 116 117 118 125 125 135 
			 Mid Kent 131 135 141 146 117 123 127 128 
			 Portsmouth 72 72 73 74 74 75 75 76 
			 South East — — — — 118 114 121 126 
			 South East 156 155 158 159 — — — — 
			 Mid Southern 114 115 116 120 — — — — 
			 South Staffs 75 78 81 85 84 86 86 89 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 136 135 139 134 112 120 121 126 
			 Tendring Hundred 149 150 152 151 137 142 146 153 
			 Three Valleys 107 112 117 124 106 111 112 116 
			 North Surrey 108 112 123 126 109 111 103 110 
		
	
	
		Average household sewerage bill -- £
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Anglian 154 158 164 156 144 151 157 163 
			 Dwr Cymru 136 146 158 166 140 147 152 155 
			 North West 109 122 133 143 119 122 113 116 
			 Northumbrian 113 118 126 141 110 112 96 101 
			 Severn Trent 106 112 117 115 92 95 211 221 
			 South West 202 213 229 237 205 203 152 159 
			 Southern 131 141 152 162 148 153 93 95 
			 Thames 93 98 102 104 92 95 122 127 
			 Wessex 129 135 142 144 124 133 133 142 
			 Yorkshire 113 115 118 123 109 112 112 117 
		
	
	The above companies also provide sewerage services to water only companies.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many and what percentage of House of Commons staff contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff through the scheme; and what steps the Commission is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff.

Archy Kirkwood: 59 members of staff currently contribute to charity under the Give as You Earn scheme. This represents 3.6 per cent. of permanent staff on the payroll. The amount contributed in November was £1,467.13. The Board of Management encourages charitable giving, and details of how to contribute through GAYE are set out in the staff handbook. The last significant promotional activity was in 1999–2000 when the Charities Aid Foundation visited staff to encourage them to take up GAYE.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equal Pay

John Barrett: To ask the Minister for Women what action she has taken to support women to challenge pay discrimination in the workplace; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government is taking action to make it easier for women who have been discriminated against to take up equal pay cases with their employers. This includes the introduction of a questionnaire procedure that will help resolve matters in the workplace and measures to simplify and speed up equal pay tribunal procedures. The equal pay questionnaire came into effect on 6 April 2003 and enables individuals to request key information from their employers right at the start when they are deciding whether to bring a case. The frequent lack of transparency on pay has helped perpetuate the gender pay gap. The questionnaire will help individuals, often women, to establish whether they actually are being paid less than their comparators and, if so, why. Establishing the key facts quickly could encourage the issues to be settled without resort to tribunal, benefiting both employers and employees. We are looking at further ways to speed up and simplify complex equal value cases and will be consulting on proposals shortly. The Government also believes that carrying out an equal pay review should be good business practice for every employer and has developed a number of initiatives to help them, including funding the Equal Opportunities Commission to develop equal pay tool kits.

Equal Pay

John Barrett: To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with trade unions regarding the formulation of a development plan to tackle gender pay discrimination in the workplace.

Patricia Hewitt: As a Government, we are committed to working in partnership with the trade union movement and others to tackle the barriers facing women in the workplace and reduce the gender pay gap. We provided additional funding of £151,867 (on top of an initial £145,000) to trade unions, for training representatives in equal pay issues in the workplace. The trade unions were fully consulted on the pay reviews of Civil Service Departments and supported the comprehensive guidance issued by the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office continues to have an open dialogue with the trades unions on progress across the Civil Service. We have a target that the Government will work with businesses and trade unions, the Equal Opportunities Commission and Opportunity Now towards ensuring that 35 per cent of large organisations have done pay reviews by 2006. We have provided the EOC with funds to take a sectoral approach to promoting equal pay reviews. We are also promoting pay reviews through the Castle Awards, now incorporated in the 100 Best Companies To Work For, to recognise steps taken by employers of all sizes and in all sectors to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to address the issues of pay inequality.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Investment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what she attributes the percentage change in business investment during 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: Business investment fell by 3.5 per cent. in 2002, following a combined 32 per cent. rise between 1997 and 2001. A number of investments planned for 2002 were deferred. The unexpected severity of the global economic slowdown in 2001 and added uncertainty in 2002 impacted on investment and business confidence across industrialised countries.
	Business investment is forecast to have grown by ¾ per cent. in 2003, with growth accelerating to be at least 3 per cent. in 2004 and 5½ per cent. in 2005.

Call Centres

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many call centre jobs have been lost in the UK in the last six months.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 20 November, Official Report, column 1438W. The Government does not have statistics on the numbers of jobs outsourced abroad. Importantly, estimates such jobs take no account of the inflows of jobs created through the UK's success in international markets.

Companies (Annual Earnings)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many companies were required to restate their annual earnings in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003;
	(2)  what her Department's policy is on companies with a trading presence in the UK who restate their earnings in the US.

Jacqui Smith: The Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP) considers whether the annual accounts of UK public companies and large private companies comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 1985. To date it has acted in response to complaints or other concerns and has always been able to resolve issues without the need to use its formal powers, which are to apply to the courts for an order requiring a company to restate its accounts.
	The FRRP would consider in the usual way any complaint made to it about a UK company which had restated its earnings in the US. The FRRP is also introducing a pro-active element into its work—that is it will select a number of accounts for review on the basis of a risk assessment. It would be a matter for the FRRP to consider whether to look at the accounts of any UK company which restates its earnings in the US.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Energy Bill will change the role of the Crown Estate with regard to (a) seabed control, (b) taxation of marine renewables and (c) planning control of marine renewables.

Stephen Timms: The Energy Bill when enacted will enable The Crown Estate to licence areas of the seabed in the Renewable Energy Zone for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the UK's wind, wave and tidal resources for the production of energy. The Renewable Energy Zone will be established around the UK, adjacent to the territorial sea, in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
	Any financial consideration which The Crown Estate may charge for the use of the seabed is a matter for that organisation, in accordance with the Crown Estate Act 1961.
	Planning control of marine renewables is a matter for Government Departments.

Departmental Staff

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the levels of sick leave in her Department as reported in 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 2002'.

Patricia Hewitt: I welcome my Department's reduction in sick absence shown in the report. Reduction of sick absence continues to be a priority in the delivery of the DTI's Business Plan.

Entrepreneurs

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people (a) entered self-employment and (b) were considering going into business on the latest month for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region and (ii) local authority area.

Nigel Griffiths: The Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey estimates the stock of self-employed people in the UK, and in Summer 2003, there were 3.4 million self-employed people in the UK. Regional estimates are also available (see Table 1).
	New VAT registrations are the best guide to new business activity (start-ups) in the UK and are available for regions and local/unitary authorities are set out in Table 3 which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
	In 2001, 12 per cent. of working age adults in England were considering going into business (or becoming self-employed). Data for the nine regions in England are shown in Table 2.
	
		Table 1: Self-employed people in the UK and regions, summer 2003
		
			 Region and country Total self-employed persons 
		
		
			 North East 89,000 
			 North West 321,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 228,000 
			 East Midlands 224,000 
			 West Midlands 244,000 
			 East 361,000 
			 London 535,000 
			 South East 554,000 
			 South West 343,000 
			 Wales 171,000 
			 Scotland 232,000 
			 Northern Ireland 93,000 
			 United Kingdom total 3,398,000 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey, Summer 2003. Due to slight methodological differences between the way the national and regional LFS estimates have been interim adjusted for the 2001 Census, there may be slight differences between the UK total and the sum of the regional components
	
		Table 2: Would-be entrepreneurs by region, England, 2001
		
			 Region Percentage of 16 to 64-year-olds 
		
		
			 East Midlands 10 
			 Eastern 9 
			 London 15 
			 North East 8 
			 North West 11 
			 South East 13 
			 South West 11 
			 West Midlands 12 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 10 
			 England 12 
		
	
	Source:
	SBS Household Survey of Entrepreneurship, 2001

Environmental Liability Directive

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact that the proposed environmental liability directive will have on small businesses in the UK.

Nigel Griffiths: The proposed environmental liability Directive is still subject to the outcome of EU negotiations.
	The UK is working together with other Member States to ensure that the final version of the Directive does not stipulate compulsory financial security as this measure would be extremely costly and place a disproportionate burden on small businesses.

European Legislation

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grant assistance is available to trade associations to help them meet the costs of consultation and representation associated with European legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: DTI values the important input that trade associations make to the development of robust policy in the UK and in Europe. Trade associations in sectors covered by DTI work closely with DTI sector units, which will, from time to time, co-sponsor joint projects.

Flexible Working

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the demand for flexible working practices.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Evidence demonstrates that the demand for flexible working by employees is high.
	The Spring 2003 Labour Force Survey indicates that 22 per cent. of employees (5.5 million) presently work some form of flexible working arrangement. The preliminary findings of the 2003 DTI Work-Life Balance survey of employees shows that there is substantial demand for flexible working patterns amongst those who do not work in each of these ways; 49 per cent. wanting to work flexitime, 34 per cent. a compressed working week, 32 per cent. work term time only and 29 per cent. expressing a desire to regularly work from home. The full report is to be published early in 2004.
	This is supported by the findings of the CIPD/Lovells October 2003 research into the impact of the new flexible working law, which indicates that over a quarter (28 per cent.) of employers have seen an increase in the total number of requests for flexible working since the law was introduced in April 2003. The Government's Work-Life Balance Campaign continues to support demand by encouraging employers to follow best practice and providing flexible working opportunities across the workplace that meet the needs of the business.

Flexible Working

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collected on (a) the number of requests which have been received by businesses for flexible working and (b) the number of such requests which have been granted.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI is collecting evidence from a number of sources to build up a clear picture of the demand for, and uptake of, flexible working:
	The second Work-Life Balance study of employers (fieldwork Dec 02-Apr 03) showed that:
	In the previous year, less than a fifth (17 per cent.) of employers had received a request, from an employee, to change their working pattern for a sustained period of time;
	Of those employees who made a request, over three-quarters (77 per cent.) said their request had been agreed.
	To provide a direct comparison over time, it is planned that the WLB survey will be repeated in 2005.
	A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and Lovells (fieldwork Sept 2003) on the use of the new right to request flexible working in the first six months showed that:
	Over a quarter of employers (28 per cent.) have seen an increase in the total number of requests for flexible working since April 2003;
	Of those organisations that have received statutory requests since the right was introduced in April, nearly two thirds (62 per cent.) have approved at least half of all such requests, either in the form submitted by the employee or in modified form.
	The Department have also commissioned questions on flexible working which currently appear in the Office of National Statistics Omnibus survey. The results of these will be available in Spring 2004.
	We continue to work with key intermediaries, such as Working Families and Maternity Alliance, who are collating data through member/supporter surveys.

Industrial Tribunals

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost to UK businesses was of industrial tribunal cases concerned with (a) disability, (b) sex and (c) race discrimination in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold statistics on the costs to employers of having an Employment Tribunal claim made against them under the main jurisdictions of disability, sex and race discrimination in each of the last five years.
	However, the estimated average cost per Employment Tribunal application to employers for all jurisdictions, including legal fees, management time and other staff time, is about £2,000. Not all applications registered will lead to a Tribunal hearing. The table below shows the number of claims each year by the main jurisdictions of disability, sex and race discrimination, each multiplied by £2,000 to give the estimated costs to employers, rounded to two significant figures.
	
		£ million
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Disability discrimination 2.9 3.5 4.2 5.2 5.4 
			 Sex discrimination 12 9.9 34 20 16 
			 Race discrimination 5.5 6.5 6.9 6.4 6.1 
		
	
	These estimates will be on the low side since discrimination applications tend to be more complicated and hence require more staff time and higher legal fees than the average application.

Iraq

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her assessment of the likely role of UK small businesses in rebuilding Iraq.

Patricia Hewitt: Although most of the main reconstruction work in Iraq will be done by large contractors, there will be opportunities for small businesses in the supply chain, sub-contracting, and in the provision of equipment and specialist services. My Department is helping UK firms make the necessary contacts in Iraq through networking events in neighbouring countries and the provision of project information.

MG Rover

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public assistance has been given to MG Rover since it was sold to the Phoenix venture capital group.

Jacqui Smith: MG Rover Group was sold in May 2000 to Techtronic (2000) Ltd. This company was later acquired by Phoenix Venture Holdings Ltd. Since May 2000, MG Rover has been offered public assistance of up to £9 million towards the cost of employee training and development. As of 1 December 2003, MG Rover had drawn down £3,512,211 which represents 39.7 per cent. of the total sum spent by the company under this programme.
	MG Rover has received one offer of grant for £62,500 under the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme, to fund collaborative research.
	Note:
	A consortium led by MG Rover has been successful in the Low Carbon Car Challenge, offered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. No funding has yet been given under this programme. The final amount that will be payable is the subject of some discussion between the company and officials from the Department for Transport.

Miners' Compensation

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many full and final settlements have been made to former miners suffering from (a) chronic bronchitis emphysema and (b) vibration white finger which total less than £2,143.

Nigel Griffiths: The number of claims settled by payment of less than 2,143 are:
	
		
			  Number of claims settled by full and final payment of less than £2,143 as of 7 December 2003 
		
		
			 Respiratory disease 40,538 
			 Vibration White Finger 4,617 
			 Total 45,155

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if her Department will examine the cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger claimants who entered into conditional fee agreements with solicitors prior to the April 2000 law change and have recently been charged success fees that reflect 25 per cent. of their awards; and what steps she is taking to ensure that solicitors do not double-charge by claiming success fees from both the defendant and the claimant.

Nigel Griffiths: Officials from the DTI met with officials from the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Law Society on 11 December to discuss what action should be taken to address the concerns raised regarding agreements signed by claimants under the coal health compensation schemes. The Law Society have agreed to refer the matter to the next meeting of the their Compliance Board on 13 January. In the meantime I have written to all the solicitors and claims handlers who are processing claims under the health schemes asking them to re-pay any money taken from claimants' compensation on top of the costs paid by the DTI.

Miners' Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking in relation to (a) solicitors who additionally charge their clients for undertaking their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and vibration white finger claims and (b) the recovery of money paid by such claimants to their solicitors.

Nigel Griffiths: I believe that 100 per cent. of compensation should go to the claimants and I am writing all the solicitors and claims handlers who are processing claims under the health schemes asking them to re-pay any money taken from claimants' compensation on top of the costs paid by the DTI.

Miners Pensions

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investments have been made using the Miners' Pension Fund surplus; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Under the terms of the Government's Guarantee arrangements for the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme and the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme, 50 per cent. of past investment surpluses were available for the Trustees to distribute to members as improved benefits. This has meant members now receive bonuses totalling around 30 per cent. on top of their guaranteed benefits.
	The remaining 50 per cent. went to the Guarantor's fund within the schemes and is payable to the Consolidated Fund in instalments over 10 year periods.

Ministerial Visits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to visit India.

Patricia Hewitt: I have no plans to visit India in the near future. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, is planning to visit India in the new year.

National Environment Research Council

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria the Natural Environment Research Council uses to allocate funding to universities.

Patricia Hewitt: NERC allocates research funding after assessment of individual project proposals received from institutions eligible for funding. Their three-stage review process consists of: an Initial Review by the Peer Review College; an External Review by independent peer reviewers; and a final review and grading by a Moderating Panel.
	At each stage, project proposals are assessed for Excellence; Fit to NERC Priorities; balance of Risk-Reward; and Cost Effectiveness. Details of the review process, assessment criteria and how they are applied to various categories of research proposals are set out on NERC's website at http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/preaward/criteria.shtml. Allocations are not made on a simple university basis.
	NERC determines the allocation of postgraduate studentships given to a department on the basis of NERC grant income and fellowships received by that department, provided the RAE rating of the department is not lower than 3b.
	MSc studentship allocations are reviewed every five years to assess the quality of the course, how it fits with NERC priorities and the overall balance within the NERC portfolio, and the relevance and/or benefits to end-users.
	Fellowships are awarded after assessment against criteria which consider primarily the excellence of the science and the track record and potential of the individual. The assessors also consider the availability of required facilities at the proposed department of tenure.

Network Reinvention Programme(North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Network Reinvention Programme on the Post Office network in North Yorkshire.

Stephen Timms: The aim of the programme is a viable network of urban sub post offices, able to thrive commercially and to meet the needs of all parts of our communities.
	Post Office Ltd. (POL) is committed to ensuring that at the end of the programme nationally 95 per cent. of the urban population will still live within a mile of their nearest post office and the majority within half a mile.

Oil-fired Appliances

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland which undertake (i) installation and (ii) maintenance of oil-fired domestic central heating systems are registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association.

Patricia Hewitt: There are many companies within the UK which undertake installation and maintenance of oil-fired central heating systems registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) and I would refer my colleague to OFTECs own website—http://www.oftcc.org/—which gives access to a comprehensive list of these companies.

Personnel Administration

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will provide the information referred to in her answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham of 18 September, Official Report, column 880W, on personnel administration.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 16 December 2003
	I have nothing to add to the letter which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Small Business and Enterprise sent the hon. Member on 30 September.

Post Offices

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the proposed closure of the post office at 69–71 City Way, Rochester, Kent.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 December 2003
	Decisions on post office closures and relocations are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. In accordance with the Code of Practice on Post Office Closures and Relocations—agreed between Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch, the consumer watchdog for postal services—the company enters into consultation on all proposed closures.
	Postwatch are consulted on every post office closure proposal before a decision is made and there is every opportunity for those affected by a proposal, and the local MP, to make representations to the company or to Postwatch.

Pre-Budget Report

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are contained in the pre-Budget report to encourage investment in the (a) manufacturing and (b) service sector.

Patricia Hewitt: The pre-Budget report contained a number of measures and announcements that will encourage investment across the manufacturing and service sectors :
	Doubling the amount of investment qualifying for the 40 per cent. plant and machinery first year allowances and a £400 million cash flow boost to smaller businesses over the next three years. Resulting from the increase in Company Law thresholds for small and medium-sized businesses in line with the new EU maxima;
	A new, clearer and more accessible R&D tax credit definition and extension of the scope of qualifying costs, to further promote the development of science and innovation;
	Reform of the way public sector engages with suppliers to provide greater clarity and certainty. Alan Wood of Siemens will be reviewing how we can improve the ability of UK firms to compete for public procurement contracts in the EU;
	Reforms to reduce the regulatory burden on enterprise;
	An extension of Employer Training Pilots for a third year to cover over a third of England;
	Measures to support fast growing innovative firms by reducing barriers to raising finance for small business, including a pathfinder round of Enterprise Capital Funds and proposed enhancements to Venture Capital Trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme;
	Launching an independent review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, to ensure its effectiveness;
	Measures to support regional growth, including details of the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme, which will boost the role of local authorities in business growth, and, in Enterprise Areas, a Business Premises Renovation Allowance;
	Measures to promote a step change in the UK's enterprise culture, including supporting a national campaign by Enterprise Insight;
	Improvements to the VAT flat-rate scheme, including new lower rates, to ensure more businesses can benefit fully from compliance savings.

Pre-Budget Report

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are contained in the pre-Budget report to encourage private sector investment.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The pre-Budget report contained a number of measures that will encourage private sector investment including:
	Reforms to reduce the regulatory burden on enterprise;
	Measures to overcome barriers to raising finance for small business, including a pathfinder round of Enterprise Capital Funds and proposed enhancements to Venture Capital Trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme;
	A new, clearer and more accessible R&D tax credit definition and extension of the scope of qualifying costs, to further promote the development of science and innovation;
	An extension of Employer Training Pilots for a third year to cover over a third of England.
	In addition pre-Budget report announced:
	Launching an independent review of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee, to ensure its effectiveness;
	Consulting on the most appropriate structure for a tax transparent property investment trust, as recommended in the interim report of the Barker Review.

Regional Development Agencies

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding allocations have been made by each of the regional development agencies for the promotion of (a) tourism and (b) the arts in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I am advised that the following sums have been allocated by England's Regional Development Agencies from their single programme budgets to the promotion of tourism and the arts in the specified years. However, the figures should be treated as estimates because there is no generally accepted definition of the arts and because they will not include projects funded by the RDAs, such as regeneration activity, where tourism or arts are fundamental to the project but are not the main consideration. Furthermore, as the RDAs do not have a specific responsibility to promote the arts, some RDAs do not record spend against a dedicated budget heading. Proposals for RDA funding to promote tourism and the arts are considered against the priorities set out in the region's Regional Economic Strategy.
	
		Estimate of funds allocated to the promotion of tourism(£ million)
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 AWM 5.80 6.33 
			 EEDA 2.50 3.29 
			 EMDA (4)1.55 (4)2.43 
			 LDA (5)19.44 (6)20.65 
			 NWDA 2.00 2.00 
			 ONE 8.42 13.17 
			 SEEDA 1.20 1.20 
			 SWRDA 14.00 14.00 
			 YF 4.02 1.32 
		
	
	(4) EMDA spend on the promotion of tourism and the arts is recorded against a single budget heading.
	(5) LDA Single Programme and £15 million allocated to London's Tourism Recovery Plan and £1.85 million of DCMS grant from the GLA.
	(6) LDA Single Programme plus £1.85 million of DCMS grant from the GLA.
	
		Estimate of funds allocated to the promotion of the arts(£ million)
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 AWM 0.73 0.54 
			 EEDA 1.40 0.82 
			 EMDA Not available(7) Not available(7) 
			 LDA 10.20 (8)10.00  
			 NWDA Not available(9) Not available(9) 
			 ONE 3.89 4.59 
			 SEEDA (10)10.00 Not yet available 
			 SWRDA 2.60 3.00 
			 YF (11)1.19 (11)1.04 
		
	
	(7) EMDA spend on the promotion of tourism and the arts is recorded as a single budget heading.
	(8) Provisional figure from the Mayor's budget proposal.
	(9) NWDA does not have a specific budget for the promotion of the arts.
	(10) SEEDA does not have a specific budget for the promotion of the arts and the figure covers support to the whole of the cultural sector.
	(11) In line with the principles of the Single Pot, YF does not have specific budgets for the promotion of tourism and the arts. The figures provided relate to some of the notable projects supported.

Second Charge Life Mortgages

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with consumer groups about whether second charge life mortgages should continue to be regulated via the Consumer Credit Act 1974;
	(2)  what plans she has to regulate the sale of second charge life mortgages over £25,000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department have had no discussions with consumer groups about whether second charge life mortgages should continue to be regulated via the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
	However, my Department have had a number of discussions with key stakeholders—business, consumer groups and enforcement agencies, regarding the removal of the £25,000 financial limit for consumer borrowing. This will ensure that in the case of second charge mortgages, all consumer borrowing will be captured by the Consumer Credit Act.

Small Businesses

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the start up rate was for small businesses in (a) each London borough, (b) London and (c) England in each year since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 15 December 2003
	Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of start-ups and closures. These cover businesses of all sizes.
	The rates of businesses registering for VAT in each calendar year from 1997 to 2002 in each London borough, London, and England, are set out as follows.
	However, changes since 1997 have given the UK the highest VAT threshold in the EU and removed up to 700,000 businesses from the requirement to register for VAT.
	
		Number of VAT registrations per 10,000 resident adults(12)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England 43 43 41 42 39 39 
			 London 68 71 68 67 59 57 
			 Barking and Dagenham 25 25 30 31 29 26 
			 Barnet 94 91 76 76 60 59 
			 Bexley 39 35 34 35 36 31 
			 Brent 61 61 59 59 52 47 
			 Bromley 45 48 39 41 41 40 
			 Camden 159 158 150 142 112 110 
			 City of London 2,212 2,228 2,200 2,345 1,653 1,428 
			 Croydon 41 42 39 39 37 38 
			 Ealing 56 56 52 53 49 48 
			 Enfield 40 42 40 42 37 39 
			 Greenwich 35 35 33 33 30 29 
			 Hackney 72 83 78 81 65 63 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 77 96 84 94 85 75 
			 Haringey 57 59 59 58 51 46 
			 Harrow 58 64 55 57 54 55 
			 Havering 40 41 36 36 36 34 
			 Hillingdon 48 49 44 46 39 43 
			 Hounslow 50 52 50 49 51 47 
			 Islington 118 126 109 97 84 82 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 98 102 106 105 74 78 
			 Kingston upon Thames 60 63 55 53 48 46 
			 Lambeth 43 45 44 43 40 42 
			 Lewisham 34 36 34 33 32 28 
			 Merton 52 56 50 52 44 39 
			 Newham 33 37 35 34 31 29 
			 Redbridge 45 50 46 46 40 38 
			 Richmond upon Thames 72 75 70 72 65 71 
			 Southwark 57 59 55 59 55 48 
			 Sutton 43 44 39 36 36 36 
			 Tower Hamlets 73 79 78 75 65 -62 
			 Waltham Forest 39 42 41 39 36 37 
			 Wandsworth 57 60 61 56 53 52 
			 Westminster 329 364 390 360 304 288 
		
	
	(12) Mid-year resident adult (16 and over) population estimates.
	Note:
	For further information on the VAT statistics please see www.sbs.gov.uk/statistics/vatstats.php
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002 from the Small Business Service; population data from The Office for National Statistics.

The Accident Group

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will appoint independent investigators to examine fees charged by receivers at the Accident Group.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Accident Group is in administration. The Secretary of State has no power to intervene in the fees charged by the administrators, which have been determined in this case by the creditors' committee.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refusals to grant Anti-Social Behaviour Orders there have been in each magistrate area, listed in descending order of number of refusals.

Hazel Blears: A total of 35 notifications have been received by the Home Office, up to 30 June 2003 (latest available), of applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) which have been refused. This represents a total of 3 per cent. of the total number of applications made to magistrates acting in their civil capacity.
	Information is given in the table, by Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) area.
	
		In descending order, the number of notifications as reported to the Home Office, of applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) which have been refused, from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2003—England and Wales
		
			 Magistrates Courts Committee(MCC) area Total number refused 
		
		
			 GLMCA/Metropolitan Police (3) 7 
			 Merseyside 5 
			 Greater Manchester 4 
			 Kent 4 
			 Wiltshire 4 
			 Hampshire 3 
			 Cleveland 1 
			 Cumbria 1 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 Suffolk 1 
			 Sussex 1 
			 Thames Valley 1 
			 West Midlands 1 
			 West Yorkshire 1 
			 England 35 
			 Wales 0 
			 Total England and Wales 35

Community Support Officers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Community Support Officers there were on the latest available date; and if he will provide a breakdown of their location by (a) police force area and (b) local authority area.

Hazel Blears: There were 2,861 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in 38 police forces on 1 December 2003. The table provides a breakdown by police force area. Information on deployment of CSOs by local authority area is not held centrally.The deployment of CSOs within a police force area is a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.
	
		Numbers of CSOs recruited by police forces as of 1 December 2003
		
			 Force Community Support Officers 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 46 
			 Bedfordshire 8 
			 Cambridgeshire 59 
			 Cheshire 30 
			 Cleveland 80 
			 Devon and Cornwall 55 
			 Dorset 7 
			 Durham 27 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 
			 Essex 77 
			 Gloucestershire 50 
			 Greater Manchester 160 
			 Gwent 50 
			 Hertfordshire 30 
			 Kent 62 
			 Lancashire 103 
			 Leicestershire 44 
			 Lincolnshire 44 
			 Merseyside 64 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,044 
			 Norfolk 34 
			 Northamptonshire 12 
			 North Wales 7 
			 North Yorkshire 37 
			 Northumbria 40 
			 Nottinghamshire 43 
			 South Wales 40 
			 South Yorkshire 42 
			 Staffordshire 10 
			 Suffolk 12 
			 Surrey 64 
			 Sussex 72 
			 Thames Valley 6 
			 Warwickshire 28 
			 West Mercia 10 
			 West Midlands 59 
			 West Yorkshire 96 
			 Wiltshire 24 
			 Total 2,681

Correspondence

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will write to the hon. Member for Mole Valley with a substantive answer to his question, reference 138047.

Paul Goggins: I wrote to the hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) on 11 December.

Drug Action Team (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been in drug rehabilitation schemes in the area covered by the Portsmouth Drug Action Team, in each year since 2001–02.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not collected centrally. The most recent statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System estimated that there were 140,900 drug misuses in treatment during 2002–03, an increase of 10 per cent. on the previous year of 2001–02.

Drug Arrests

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug arrests have been made in the Hampshire police force area in each year since 2000–01.

Hazel Blears: Available data on the number of persons arrested for drug offences within the Hampshire police force area are given in the table.
	
		Number of persons arrested for drug offences in Hampshire police force area, 2000–01 to 2002–03
		
			  Arrests  
		
		
			 2000–01 3,059 
			 2001–02 3,121 
			 2002–03 3,089

Miss Eulisa De Freitas

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the hon. Member for Totnes to discuss the application for the renewal of the United Kingdom passport of Miss Eulisa De Freitas.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 11 December 2003
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 November 2003 and will place a copy of my letter in the Library. I hope he will agree that a meeting would serve no useful purpose as there is nothing more I can add to that letter which sets out fully the issues in this case and the reasons why I have no power to issue a UK passport for Miss Freitas.

Special Constables

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables have been in post, in each half year, since September 2001.

Hazel Blears: Home Office figures on police strength moved to an annual cycle from March 2002 and are available in the House Library, as are previous publications. The number of Special Constables in post in England and Wales for each half year available since September 2001 are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 September 2001 12,068 
			 March 2002 11,598 
			 March 2003 11,037 
		
	
	We are working with stakeholders to increase the size and effectiveness of the Special Constabulary. In particular, we are rolling out Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers 'Good Practice Guidance'; we are also holding a 2nd National Specials Weekend on 28–29 February 2004 to help raise the profile of Specials and the invaluable work they do; and we have recently announced grants of up to £70,000 to assist forces to boost their capacity to recruit and manage Specials effectively.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Centres

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres there are; what the locations are of (a) existing and (b) planned children's centres; and how many of each are in deprived areas.

Margaret Hodge: There are now 61 children's centres in England, all of which are based in disadvantaged areas (see following table for details). We are currently considering proposals from local authorities for the wider roll out of this programme, and will announce locations from early 2004 as new centres are designated. All children's centres will be based in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in England, or in pockets of disadvantage outside of these wards.
	
		Early designated children's centres as at December 2003
		
			 Local authority Children's centre 
		
		
			 Bath and NE Somerset First Step Nursery 
			 Bedfordshire The Lawns Early Excellence Centre 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Sudell and Central Darwen Sure Start 
			 Blackpool Sure Start Grange Park 
			 Blackpool Sure Start Mereside and Clifton 
			 Bolton Harvey Early Excellence Centre 
			 Bristol Hartcliffe Early Excellence Centre 
			 Bristol Redcliffe Early Excellence Centre 
			 Camden Thomas Coram Early Excellence Centre 
			 Cornwall Sure Start Lescudjack Centre 
			 Coventry Sure Start Coventry South East 
			 Doncaster Denaby Main and Coinsborough Sure Start 
			 Dudley Sure Start Brierley Hill 
			 Durham Sure Start Peterlee 
			 Ealing South Acton Early Excellence Centre 
			 Ealing Grove House Nursery School 
			 Gateshead Sure Start Blaydon Winlaton 
			 Greenwich Robert Owen Early Years Centre 
			 Hackney Mapledene Early Years Centre 
			 Hampshire Sure Start Warren Park 
			 Hertfordshire Birchwood Nursery School 
			 Hertfordshire Oughton School 
			 Hertfordshire St. Alban's Children Centre 
			 Hertfordshire Westfield School 
			 Hillingdon Hayes Neighbourhood Nursery and Early Years Centre 
			 Islington Fortune Park Early Years Centre 
			 Islington New River Green Early Excellence Centre 
			 Knowsley Overdale Educare Centre 
			 Lambeth Ethelred Nursery School 
			 Lancashire Walton Lane Nursery School 
			 Leeds East Leeds Children Centre 
			 Leeds Parklands Children Centre 
			 Leeds Seacroft Children's Centre 
			 Liverpool Everton Children and Family Centre 
			 Manchester Benchill Children's Centre 
			 Manchester Clayton Children's Centre 
			 Manchester Hattersley Sure Start 
			 Manchester Martenscroft Early Excellence Centre 
			 Manchester Lightbowne Children's Centre 
			 Manchester Old Moat Children's Centre 
			 Manchester Rusholme Children's Centre 
			 North East Lincolnshire Nunsthorpe and Bradley Early Excellence Centre 
			 Northamptonshire Pen Green Early Excellence Centre 
			 Norfolk Sure Start Thorpe Hamlet 
			 Northumberland Sure Start Bedlington and Scotland Gate 
			 North Tyneside Howdon Children's Centre 
			 North Tyneside Sure Start Shiremoor and Killingworth 
			 Nottingham City Sure Start North West 
			 Oxfordshire ACE Centre EEC 
			 Oxfordshire Sure Start Rose Hill Littlemore 
			 Rotherham Aughton Early Years Centre 
			 Rotherham Rawmarsh Children's Centre 
			 Staffordshire Cannock Early Years and Sure Start Centre 
			 Southwark Bishops Early Years Centre 
			 Southwark The Arc Neighbourhood Nursery 
			 Sunderland Sure Start North Washington 
			 Shropshire Oswestry Children's Centre 
			 Telford and Wrekin Newdale Children's Centre 
			 Tower Hamlets Bromley by Bow Centre 
			 Thurrock Sure Start Tilbury Flagship Centre 
			 Worcestershire The W.A.N.D.S Project

Children's Commissioner

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) role and (b) powers of the proposed Children's Commissioner will be.

Margaret Hodge: The Children's Commissioner as proposed in the Green Paper will be an independent children's champion who will be a voice for children and young people, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable. The Commissioner will play a crucial role in raising the profile of the issues that affect children, working with a wide range of bodies, such as local and national government, service providers, business, media and the voluntary sector, to ensure that children and young people are involved in the policy making process.
	The Green Paper proposes that the Commissioner should work at a strategic level and would not investigate individual cases—except where they have wider implications for all children as directed by the Secretary of State. Nor will the Commissioner have a complaints or specific advocacy function—this will remain the responsibility of others. The Commissioner would work with the relevant Ombudsmen and statutory bodies to promote good practice and ensure that complaints procedures work and are quick and easy for children to access and follow.
	The Commissioner would have a duty to report annually to Parliament on progress against the key outcomes set out in 'Every Child Matters', reflecting what children and young people have been saying.
	Further details on the role and powers of the Commissioner are being developed in the light of the consultation which ended on 1 December, and legislation will be introduced to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

Higher and Further Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the (a) higher education and (b) further education courses for which fee costs are paid by public sector employers.

Alan Johnson: For higher education courses, the Department for Education and Skills pays the fee costs of students attending post graduate initial teacher training courses. Information for other Departments and public sector bodies are not held centrally.
	For further education courses, we expect all adults, or their employers, in further education to contribute towards the cost of their learning. Those on low incomes or on basic skills courses do not pay tuition fees. There is no general provision of learning or special fee arrangements specifically for public sector employers. Individual colleges or other post-16 providers may have locally organised arrangements with individual employers. No information is held centrally about such arrangements.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what expenditure his Department proposes to allocate to (a) advertising campaigns and (b) publicity campaigns relating to higher education in each year from 2002–03 to the end of the current expenditure plan.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 10 December 2003
	The Department has run a number of campaigns in relation to higher education. These include:
	The 'Aimhigher' campaign, which has been running for three years, aims to raise the aspirations of young people and their parents by promoting the benefits of higher education;
	A campaign to raise awareness of foundation degrees among employers and potential students;
	An information campaign, run annually, aimed at potential higher education students and their parents informing them of the financial support available and how to apply for it;
	Following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a campaign informing potential and existing higher education students and their parents that changes were being proposed and signposting them to sources of further information.
	In 2002–03 the Department spent £8 million on higher education publicity campaigns of which £3.2 million was spent on advertising. In 2003–04 we expect to spend £13.8 million of which £6.08 million would be spent on advertising. Plans and budgets for the Department's communications activity for 2004–05, including campaigns relating to higher education, have not yet been developed so it is not possible to give the information requested.
	All costs exclude VAT.

Higher Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advertising campaigns his Department is introducing on the proposed changes to higher education funding; and what the level of funding allocated to each campaign is.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent in 2003 on advertising campaigns regarding student tuition fees; and what media have been used.

Alan Johnson: The Department regularly runs advertising campaigns to explain to potential students and their parents what financial support is available to those undertaking higher education courses. The current 2003 campaign, (for those applying for September 2004 and which runs to the end of February 2004) is closely linked to the Government's wider Aimhigher campaign, designed to encourage young people from non-traditional backgrounds to apply for university. The total cost of advertising is £682,000 which covers radio and poster advertising, and paid editorials.
	In addition, following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a further information campaign to explain what was being proposed and to signpost further information. The total cost of advertising was £605,000. All costs are exclusive of VAT.

Mental Health

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many referrals there have been to the Child and Family Mental Health Services of families with children up to the age of five years in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and who initiated the referrals.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	Information is not available in the form requested. The following table shows the number of referrals to child and adolescent psychiatry in England from general practitioners and others.
	
		Number of adolescent referrals to child and psychiatry: England
		
			  Referral type 
			  GP Other 
		
		
			 1997–98 41,834 28,007 
			 1998–99 37,356 27,965 
			 1999–2000 36,263 26,892 
			 2000–01 34,231 24,004 
			 2001–02 31,506 24,875 
			 2002–03 26,346 20,228 
		
	
	Note:
	Others includes referals from A&E, consultants in other specialities etc.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08.

Pre-school Sector

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funds he will make available to the boards of pre-schools to meet possible staff redundancies;
	(2)  what additional financial resources he will provide to the pre-school sector to enable staff better to comply with Ofsted inspections;
	(3)  what plans his Department has fully to fund (a) pre-schools and (b) the Appletree pre-school in Sidmouth.

Margaret Hodge: Funding for pre-school settings is rightly a matter for local determination in the light of local needs and circumstances. From April 2003, we have increased local flexibility and autonomy by consolidating the resources to enable local authorities to meet their statutory responsibilities to provide free nursery education for three and four year olds through the under-fives sub-block of their Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS)—the main source of funding for education. In the current financial year, Devon's overall under fives sub-block is worth nearly £30 million. We calculate that more than £6 million of additional ring-fenced funding is available to providers in Devon-through a variety of Sure Start funding streams administered by the local authority.

Royal National Institute of the Blind

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the minimum level of funding was for trainees on the residential training for disabled adults course at the Royal National Institute of the Blind's Loughborough College in each year since 1995.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Residential Training Unit contracts with 14 national training providers, including Royal National Institute for the Blind's (RNIB) Loughborough College, to deliver specialist residential training for people with disabilities who are unable to train in their home area because local providers cannot offer the specialist help they need.
	Each provider is contracted with separately, and fees vary for each provider. Each trainee is funded separately depending on their own unique set of circumstances. Providers are paid a one-off fee for each trainee that starts a course; these start at £1,000 per trainee, rising to £2,000 when the provider passes a pre-set threshold. Weekly fees are also paid for each trainee.
	Additionally, providers are paid outcome payments; these are on a sliding scale ranging from £4,000 for a job outcome within 40 weeks of starting training to £1,000 for a job outcome after 12 months of finishing a training programme. Additional fees are also payable for specific support such as child care, tools, equipment, interpreters, readers, travel and special support for those with mental health problems.
	The standard weekly fees paid for trainees at RNIB's Loughborough College are in the table.
	
		Weekly fees for trainees at RNIB's Loughborough College -- £
		
			 Year Residential fee Day fee 
		
		
			 1995–96 391 315 
			
			 1996–97 391/362 315 
			 1997–98 362 315 
			 1998–99 338 299 
			 1999–00 345 299 
			 2000–01 380 299 
			 2001–02 392 300 
			 2002–03 404 300 
			 2003–04 414 308 
		
	
	Note: The fees changed in 1996/97 due to a renegotiation of the contract.
	Source
	Residential Training Unit

Public Services (Ethnicity)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services within the responsibilities of his Department.

Charles Clarke: The Department's Race Equality Scheme, first published in 2002 and revised in August 2003, incorporates our action plan for equality, which assesses the impact of all the Department's policies on ethnic minorities. The Race Equality Scheme can be found on our internet site and is available in hard copy.

Standard Attainment Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish the findings of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority investigation into the standard attainment tests at age seven, 11 and 14.

David Miliband: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority published a report yesterday entitled "Comparability of National Tests overtime: Key Stage Test Standards between 1996 and 2001". A copy of the report is available on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority website at: www.qca.org.uk

Sure Start

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on Sure Start funding mechanisms.

Margaret Hodge: Grants are allocated to local authorities to support Sure Start initiatives. The Sure Start Unit is continually simplifying funding arrangements. Six separate funding streams for early years and child care have already been brought together in one simplified grant for 2003–04 and the number of ring-fenced funds has been halved. Strategic Guidance issued to local authorities in July 2003 has confirmed that they will have greater flexibility in setting local priorities and use of funding. A new performance management system with a set of streamlined targets will be introduced from April 2004.
	Funding for Sure Start local programmes is paid to the organisation nominated by the local partnership as the 'accountable body'. Annual revenue funding is approved by the Sure Start Unit, based on the programme's delivery plan. Capital funding is approved by the Sure Start Unit from submission of capital project plans. Payments for both capital and revenue funding are made on submission of quarterly funding claims.

Sustainable Development

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on how the national curriculum promotes awareness of sustainable development.

David Miliband: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is a statutory part of the programmes of study for Science, Geography, Design and Technology and Citizenship within the National Curriculum. The Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) also encourage schools to consider sustainable development issues within the teaching of all subjects. Since 2001, the Department has funded QCA to provide on-line guidance for teachers.

Top-up Fees

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much money has been spent in the last six months on advertisements to promote and explain top-up fees; how many advertisements have been broadcast; and what the total planned spending is on this campaign.

Alan Johnson: pursuant to his reply, 9 December 2003, c. 359–60W
	Advertising about the student finance package will in fact cost a total of £682,000 (excluding VAT).
	The Department has not spent any money on advertisements to promote top-up fees. We are, however, running advertising to inform those considering applying now for a higher education course in September 2004 about the student support package available to them and how to apply.

Tuition Fees

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been budgeted for the advertising campaign on university tuition fees; which media are being used; and when the campaign will finish.

Alan Johnson: The Department has no budget for an advertising campaign on proposed university tuition fees.
	The Department regularly runs advertising campaigns to explain to potential students and their parents what financial support is available to those undertaking higher education courses. The current 2003 campaign, (for those applying for September 2004 and which runs to the end of February 2004) is closely linked to the Government's wider Aimhigher campaign, designed to encourage young people from non traditional backgrounds to apply for university. The total cost of advertising is £682,000 which covers radio and poster advertising, and paid editorials.
	In addition, following the publication of the Higher Education White Paper in January 2003, the Department ran a further information campaign to explain what was being proposed and to signpost further information. The total cost of advertising was 605,000. All costs are exclusive of VAT.

University Bursaries

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of the proposed top-up fee income which will be required to be applied for in bursaries.

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to universities of administering the proposed bursaries; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: We are considering and discussing the contents of access agreements and the duties of the Office for Fair Access, and will make a statement in due course.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces (Christmas Post)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been put in place by his Department to cope with the increased demand on postal services for troops serving in the Gulf this Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the current arrangements for the sending of parcels to troops serving in the Gulf over the Christmas period.

Adam Ingram: A full airmail service for letters and packets up to 2 kg is in place, and no charge is made for these items addressed to named personnel in the Gulf. In anticipation of increased volumes of mail for personnel in the Gulf over the Christmas period, arrangements have been made for appropriate space to be allocated on RAF flights to the region. The current arrangements are very effective, and a high quality of service is being achieved.

Armed Forces Recruitment

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to increase the numbers joining the armed forces; and what measures he is taking to increase recruitment into the armed forces from Commonwealth countries.

Ivor Caplin: All three Services undertake numerous and varied initiatives, both at national and local level, aimed at increasing the level of recruitment to the armed forces. Included amongst the many current initiatives are:
	The use of multi-media advertising campaigns.
	Services' Recruiting Teams' attendance at schools, careers fairs and Graduate Recruitment Seminars, road shows, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations.
	Work experience placements within Service Establishments.
	Personal Development Courses and Look at Life Courses for young people who express an interest in the armed forces.
	Taster Day visits to HM Ships and Service Establishments. A dedicated careers website for each of the Services.
	An Army 'on-line' recruiting office, with plans for this to be replicated by the other Services.
	Specialist Ethnic Minority Recruiting and Diversity Action Teams aimed at promoting Armed Forces careers amongst the United Kingdom's ethnic minority and faith communities.
	A Partnership with the 'Jobcentre Plus', making use of its network (totalling in excess of 1,100) of local outlets.
	Although Commonwealth citizens are entitled, on nationality eligibility grounds, to serve in the UK Armed Forces, the Services do not actively market armed forces careers in Commonwealth countries. Selection and recruitment team visits to Commonwealth countries are limited to those locations where numbers of expected applicants justify the effort and where an invitation to conduct visits has been received from the respective Government. Nevertheless, the Services do process applications from Commonwealth citizens who have travelled to the UK at their own volition for such a purpose.

Armed Forces Staffing Levels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 271W, on Armed Forces Staffing Levels, when he expects to announce the final conclusions of the End to End review.

Adam Ingram: Following my announcement on the 10 September 2003, Official Report, columns 26–27WS. I placed a summary of the conclusions from the End to End (E2E) Review in the Library of the House. The review was wide-ranging and work is now being undertaken to determine how best to achieve the E2E objectives. This includes a Demonstration Phase designed to test the conclusions of the Review. It is too early to predict what the final outcome of this work will be. I shall keep the House informed of progress as this work continues.

Arms Exports

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has raised (a) the waiver for United Kingdom companies from the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations and (b) the fast track for United Kingdom defence export permits with the US Administration; and when he expects these issues to be resolved.

Geoff Hoon: I, and other members of the Government have raised the issue of improved defence trade cooperation with the US Administration on several occasions this year. The Government are seeking a United Kingdom waiver from the United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which will better meet the needs of UK industry than an agreement about processing times for the licensing of US items for export to the UK. The joint statement the Prime Minister issued with President Bush on 20 November affirmed that they both consider it a high priority to implement a licensing exemption that will facilitate defence trade between our countries.
	We hope that the waiver will come into effect next year, subject to congressional and parliamentary approval, and after the necessary implementing regulations and administrative procedures have been put in place.

Army (Merging Regiments)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans to merge regiments in the Army.

Ivor Caplin: There are currently no plans to merge Army regiments. The Defence White Paper, published last week, sets out the context for shaping the structure of the Armed Forces for many years ahead. Work is still to be done with regard to the details of individual systems and units within that overall structure, but at present no decisions have been taken.

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 10 most cited reasons for leaving or considering leaving the Royal Navy/Royal Marines given by respondents to the last assessed Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is drawn from the May 2003 edition of the Continuous Attitude Survey.
	Main reasons for leaving Naval Service
	Royal Navy
	Ability to plan your own life—long term
	Your pay in relation to the hours worked
	Ability to plan your own life—short term
	The level of job satisfaction you expect in the future
	Your enjoyment of Service life
	The degree of recognition and reward (other than pay) for long working hours
	Amount of separation from family and friends
	The amount of 'fun' in the Service
	The desire to live at home
	Your pay in general
	Royal Marines
	Ability to plan your own life—long term
	Your pay in general
	Ability to plan your own life—short term
	The extent to which you are doing the job for which you are trained
	Opportunities for promotion/advancement
	Pay in relation to hours worked
	Pay in relation to the responsibilities of your job
	Opportunities for educational activities of your choice for personal/professional development
	Amount of separation from family and friends
	The desire to live at home

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are not asked about nationality in the current edition of the Continuous Attitude Survey; whether nationality was listed as a question in previous editions; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: There has been no requirement to collect information about nationality through the current or previous editions of the Continuous Attitude Survey.

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey last included questions on (a) overstretch and (b) privatisation and contractualisation; for what reason those questions are not included in the latest edition of the Royal Navy/Royal Marine Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: No requirement has been identified to collect information about (a) overstretch or (b) privatisation and contractualisation through the Continuous Attitude Survey. The impact on personnel of the high level of operational commitment by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines will be addressed in the future.

Battle of Trafalgar

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Ivor Caplin: While no final decisions have yet been made, it is anticipated that there will be a series of national and international events 'the Trafalgar Festival' co-ordinated by the Official Nelson Commemoration Committee which will include an International Fleet Review in the Solent.
	Further announcements will be made to the House in due course.

Battle of Trafalgar

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding has been allocated by his Department for celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005; what form he expects the celebrations to take; which countries have been invited to take part; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Funding to mark the Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005 is still under discussion and no final decisions have been made.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many formal grievances have been raised by the staff of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory since its formation; and how many relate to staff who are on secondment to, or have returned from, secondment to his Department.

Ivor Caplin: Records indicate that a total of 12 formal grievances have been raised by staff since the formation of Dstl. Of these, two were raised by staff that had been on secondment to main Ministry of Defence posts.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Christmas trees his Department has (a) shipped to Iraq and (b) procured in Iraq for the purpose of celebrations among personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 17 December 2003
	Fifty Christmas trees were being sent to Iraq by the Expeditionary Forces Institute to be purchased locally by units deployed there. In addition, a number of units have made their own arrangements to import trees.

Joint Strike Fighter

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Joint Strike Fighter.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2003, Official Report, column 453W.

Michael Morgan

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will re-open the investigation into the death of Michael Morgan, an employee of the Ministry of Defence in the sovereign base areas of Cyprus on 17 May 2001.

Ivor Caplin: No new information has come to light to cast doubt on the Coroner's original verdict. We therefore have no plans to re-open the investigation into Mr. Morgan's death.

Procurement (Risk Assessment)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used in evaluating the cost of risk assessed as attaching to bids to supply goods and services to the MoD; and whether bidders are informed of (a) such criteria and (b) their effect on their bids.

Adam Ingram: In evaluating bids for the supply of goods and services the Ministry of Defence will assess risk in terms of likely Performance against the requirement; Timeliness of delivery and Cost. MOD employs various tools for bid evaluation including risk questionnaires and Three-Point Estimating.
	In line with the Codes of Best Practice agreed between MOD and the Defence Industry it is now standard practice for the MOD to make available to bidders the criteria and weightings used in the tender evaluation process.

Secondments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to monitor secondments from his Department to other governments; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: It is a management function of the sponsoring unit within MOD to monitor the effectiveness of individual secondments against the objectives for which they were established. There is no central control or monitoring of these management activities, and this information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Warships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what changes have been agreed since Main Gate approval to (a) specifications, (b) build quality and (c) delivery dates of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being constructed by Swan Hunter;
	(2)  what cost overruns have been notified to his Department on the construction of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels by Swan Hunter;
	(3)  what the expected commissioning date is of Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels being built by (a) Swan Hunter and (b) BAE Systems Marine.
	(4)  what claims for compensation from Swan Hunter have been made by BAE Systems Marine in respect of delays in the construction of two Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) vessels at Govan.

Adam Ingram: Since Main Gate approval, a small number of enhancements have been made to the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary (LSD(A)) programme to ensure that each vessel complies with the latest statutory safety requirements. There have been no changes to the build quality of the vessels.
	Swan Hunter has recently announced delays to its build programme. We are currently reviewing the impact this will have on the In-Service Dates of all four LSD(A)s. Provisional dates supplied by both companies suggest that the First of Class LSD(A) will now enter service in autumn 2005 with the final vessel entering service in summer 2006.
	The Department has a Firm Price contract with Swan Hunter and any contractual discussions that arise are commercially sensitive. I am, therefore, withholding this information under Exemption 7a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to the effective management and operations of the public service.
	BAE SYSTEMS Marine's LSD(A) contract is not with Swan Hunter but with the Ministry of Defence. Claims for compensation have been made by BAE SYSTEMS Marine as a consequence of delays to its build programme at Govan. These too are commercially sensitive, and I am also withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 7a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Disabled Civil Servants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many senior civil servants in her Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents.

Richard Caborn: The Department collects data on disability on a voluntary self-declaration basis. There are currently no members of the Department's senior civil service who have declared a disability.

Funding for Children's Play

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to publish the report commissioned by the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras on funding from the New Opportunities Fund for children's play.

Estelle Morris: I expect the report commissioned from the right hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras to be published early in the New Year.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for her Department.

Richard Caborn: The Home Office has lead responsibility for developing the national identity cards scheme, which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 11 November 2003. My Department stands ready to take part in any on-going discussions, as appropriate.

Intellectual Property (Performers)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what further action she plans to implement the provisions of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Performances and Phonograms Treaty in respect of the rights of performers.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	UK law does not at present grant performers the moral rights required by the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, and we are planning to introduce these rights during the course of next year.

Lottery Grants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total amount of Lottery grants given to (a) the richest 100 wards in the UK and (b) the poorest 100 wards in the UK was (i) from the inception of the Lottery to 1 May 1997 and (ii) from 2 May 1997 to date.

Estelle Morris: The information requested is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The information cannot be provided in the exact format requested. Changes to ward boundaries in some of these wards make such comparisons impossible. Where boundaries have remained constant, the information requested is shown in the tables which are produced from data provided by the Lottery distributors. The tables are based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation for England only—no UK wide measure is available.

Tourism (North-East)

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with representatives of One North East regarding (a) the tourism industry and (b) the Northumbria Tourist Board.

Richard Caborn: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have had recent discussions with representatives of One North East regarding (a) the tourism industry and (b) the Northumbria Tourist Board. However, officials from my Department's Tourism Division and from the Government Office for the North East have been in regular contact with One North East as they have taken on their strategic responsibility for tourism in the region and have had discussions with representatives of the Northumbria Tourist Board. I have asked One North East and the other English Regional Development Agencies to work with their tourist boards and the industry to decide upon the best support structure for the tourism industry in their particular region. I understand that One North East is working towards the introduction of a new structure for the delivery of tourism in the North East. My officials continue to work with the RDAs to help ensure a planned and smooth transition to any new arrangements.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Yvette Cooper: The purchasing policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reflects the Government's value for money policy and the EC procurement rules, which require the procurement of goods and services to be based on value for money and acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary, and the objectives of the Office.
	Fair trade products are widely available in our offices. The restaurants sell fair trade products including coffee, tea and chocolate bars. The catering menus include options that allow for fair trade tea and coffee to be provided, on request, for official meetings and conferences.

Landfill Directive

Sue Doughty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 343W, if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions within Government and with industry on the implications of the implementation of the Landfill Directive for regeneration of brownfield sites, including (a) potential obstacles identified and (b) agreed action.

Keith Hill: Discussions are continuing but have not yet reached the stage where we are able to report on outcomes. A further meeting of Government and industry representatives is to take place in January 2004.

Local Authority Funding

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of grant from all Government sources St. Helens borough council has received in each year since 1996.

Nick Raynsford: Tabled are details of revenue grants received by St. Helen's metropolitan borough council as part of gross Aggregate External Finance (AEF) between 1996–97 to 2004–05.
	
		£000
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Revenue Support Grant 69,460 65,703 72,305 75,574 74,395 78,789 74,672 91,122 102,243 
			 National Non- Domestic Rates 42,108 39,269 40,857 44,154 49,674 48,615 53,162 51,772 49,369 
			 Specific Grants within AEF(13) 5,774 4,548 6,457 6,988 12,834 18,546 21,523 24,891 (14)— 
		
	
	(13) Information on specific grants up until 2002–03 is taken from local authority outturn returns. From 2003–04, where outturn information is not yet available this is based on local authority budget returns.
	(14) Data not available until spring 2004 when they will be reported by local authorities on their RA and RA(SG) returns.
	Note:
	The grants are on an unadjusted basis and may not be comparable between years, because transfers of function may have taken place.

Councillors

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on golden goodbyes for long-serving councillors; and how the scheme is financed.

Nick Raynsford: There is no provision for long-serving councillors in England to be provided with any form of severance payment. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change this position.

Pupil Mobility

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to take into account levels of pupil mobility between schools when measuring education, skills and training deprivation in revised indices of deprivation.

Yvette Cooper: During the initial phase of work to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID 2000), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister considered the issue of pupil mobility and investigated various avenues for constructing such an indicator. This investigation showed that, at present, there is no centrally held database on pupil mobility. As one of the criteria for inclusion of an indicator in the ID 2000 is that it must be nationally available at a small area level, we were unable to pursue this issue in the current update.

Regional Assemblies

Graham Stringer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what target has been set for the turnout in the referendums on regional assemblies;
	(2)  what budget has been agreed within the three Government Offices for the Regions to increase turnout in referendums on regional assemblies; and what organisational changes are planned in the three Government offices to help increase the turnout in the referenda on regional assemblies;
	(3)  what guidance he has given to Government Offices for the Regions on increasing the turnout in the referendums on elected regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: None—there is no turnout target.
	However, the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 (Chapter 10) gives the Electoral Commission the power to
	"do anything they think necessary or expedient for the purpose of encouraging voting"
	at these referendums.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether the number of disputes requiring adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme would differ from the current rate of alleged unreasonable withholding of deposits; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: No reliable assessment has been made of the number of disputes requiring adjudication under a tenancy deposit scheme. But it is expected that the number of disputes will fall as and when well thought out arrangements for tenancy deposit protection are introduced. The Government are currently exploring with the key stakeholders how best that might be achieved.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the outcome of the Government's consultation on a possible tenancy deposit scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Following a consultation the Government will in the new year be considering options for legislative proposals for the safeguarding of tenancy deposits. We will then announce the outcome of our consultations and our legislative proposals.

PRIME MINISTER

22 July Briefing

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether copies of the transcript prepared by Radio Technical Services of the briefing given by him en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003 have been made available to the Press;
	(2)  if he will publish the transcript prepared by Radio Technical Services of the briefing given by him en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003.

Tony Blair: Any comments I made en route to Hong Kong on 22 July 2003 were made on the record and were fully reported by the media at the time in the same way as any briefings I make on visits like this.

Canada

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to meet the new Prime Minister of Canada; and if he will discuss with him parliamentary reform in Canada, with particular reference to the greater use of free votes.

Tony Blair: I have spoken and written to the new Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin, to congratulate him on his appointment. I have no current plans to meet him, but look forward to doing so in the future.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 657W, on honours, how many honours have been returned since 1 January 1997, broken down by type.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 657W, on honours, how many people returning honours gave a reason for returning the honour.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals for changing the system for awarding honours.

Tony Blair: The honours system is kept under continuous review.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what the procedure is for returning an honour; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: There is no formal procedure for the returning of honours. Those wishing to do so would normally write to my office or the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many people in each year since 1997 refused an honour, broken down by type of honour.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 657W.

Imad Hage

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings his officials have held during 2003 with Mr. Imad Hage.

Tony Blair: Officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under Exemptions 2, 7 and 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Imad Hage

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received during the last 12 months from Mr. Imad Hage.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, I have not received any representations from Mr. Imad Hage.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister whether the work of the Iraq Survey group will be suspended pending the receipt of information from Saddam Hussein on the location of weapons of mass destruction; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: No. The work of the Iraq Survey Group will continue.

Kyoto Protocol

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of his letters to President Putin, referred to in his answer of 10 November 2003, Official Report, column 3W; and if he will make a statement on when he expects the Kyoto Protocol to come into force.

Tony Blair: The Kyoto Protocol must be ratified by a minimum of 55 countries, including developed countries representing 55 per cent. of developed countries' carbon dioxide emissions in 1990 before it enters into force. We understand that the Russian Federation is currently completing its assessment of the Protocol. We look forward to an early decision so that the Protocol can enter into force as soon as possible.
	The Government believe that the Kyoto Protocol is the only existing international framework for tackling climate change and takes every opportunity to urge all countries that have not yet ratified it to do so as soon as possible.
	It is not the normal practice to release letters from the Prime Minister to another Head of Government under Exemption l(b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

People's Peers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when he will invite the House of Lords Appointments Commission to submit its recommendations for the second round of people's peers.

Tony Blair: I hope to do so shortly.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Airports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the proposed runway extension at City of Derry Airport;
	(2)  if he will conduct a full public consultation before a decision is made on the proposed runway extension at City of Derry Airport.

John Spellar: Derry City Council have made a funding application to both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland authorities in relation to its proposal to further develop the City of Derry Airport. Details of the proposed phasing and cost estimates for the project are expected shortly. A decision on the council's application will depend on the outcome of technical and economic appraisals and on policy and budgetary considerations. I will be happy to receive and consider any representations from persons interested in these matters.
	It will be necessary for the council to apply separately to the Planning Service of the Department of the Environment for planning permission for the proposed runway extension. As part of that process, the application will be advertised and a period of four weeks will be allowed for receipt of comments on the planning issues.

Airports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will assess the feasibility of constructing (a) a rail link to Belfast International Airport and (b) a new railway station at Belfast City Airport.

John Spellar: Previous studies have shown that to construct a rail link to Belfast International Airport and a new railway station at Belfast City Airport would both involve considerable costs which could not be justified by the anticipated level of passenger demand.

Antisocial Behaviour

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to address anti- social behaviour on public transport in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: Translink has advised that it has a dedicated internal working group to improve security on buses and trains. Translink operates a widely promoted scheme under which it offers rewards of up to £1,000 for information on attacks which lead to prosecutions. Translink staff liase closely with community representatives and the PSNI in an attempt to reduce attacks and general anti-social behaviour on public transport.
	Translink has also advised that security features within the Translink bus fleet include CCTV, driver protection screens, specially strengthened windows in the driver's cab area and double glazing over the rest of the vehicle. Communication systems also enable bus and train drivers to liase with Central Control staff regarding potential and actual incidents. Driver and passenger security have also been taken into account in the design of the new trains currently being built for NIR.

Arrhythmia

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with arrhythmia; what steps he is taking to raise awareness of this condition in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Figures are collected only on the number of patients admitted to hospital for the treatment of arrhythmia, not the total number diagnosed with the condition. There were 190 people admitted with cardiac arrhythmia conditions from April 2002 to March 2003.
	Following a Review of Cardiology Services undertaken by the Department, an action plan containing a number of recommendations to improve these services was issued in April 2003. I have asked my Department to monitor progress closely.

Cannabis Reclassification

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the cannabis reclassification awareness raising campaign will begin; how long it will last; what format it will take; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The reclassification of cannabis will take effect in Northern Ireland from 29 January 2004 in line with other parts of the UK. The Government are conscious of the need to ensure the public have appropriate and accurate information so that everyone is aware about what this change means and not least to remind the public that the possession and consumption of cannabis will remain illegal and that the drug itself is harmful. To that end, my officials have been in contact with the Home Office to ensure that the campaign in Northern Ireland is in line with and will be as effective as, that planned elsewhere, while having a distinct local emphasis.
	I will make a public statement giving details of the campaign in Northern Ireland closer to the 29 January.

Childhood Obesity

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to tackle the rise in childhood obesity.

Angela Smith: We have strategies for food and nutrition and physical activity in place together with initiatives such as "Fresh Fruit in Schools" and the "Health Promoting Schools" project which promote healthy eating and physical activity. In addition the Health Promotion Agency has developed a community based nutrition programme entitled "Cook it", a new nutrition information booklet for parents called "Getting a good start—healthy eating from one to five", and launched a pilot scheme to encourage short physical activity sessions in primary schools.

Cycling

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve facilities for cyclists; and what measures he is taking to encourage greater usage of Northern Ireland's cycling network.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Fishing Industry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to complete the Strategic Review of the Fishing Industry.

Ian Pearson: Following publication of the report of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on the medium to long-term prospects for the UK fishing industry, I intend to recommence the Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland fishing industry.

Further Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) financial and (b) operating (i) deficits and (ii) surpluses for each Northern Ireland further education college in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Northern Ireland Further Education Colleges became incorporated bodies on the 1 April 1998. The 2002–03 figures are the fifth set of accounts for colleges as incorporated bodies and cover a 12 month period from 1 August 2002–31 July 2003
	The annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice (SORP): Accounting for Further and Higher Education. The form and content of the annual college accounts are set out in the Accounts Direction for the Governing Bodies of Further Education Colleges in August 1998 and updated subsequently in August 2002.
	The operating surplus/(deficit) and historic surplus/(deficit) results for each individual further education college over the last five years has been placed in the Library.

Further Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the financial recovery plans of Northern Ireland's further education colleges.

Jane Kennedy: Since Incorporation on 1 April 1998, six further education colleges have developed financial recovery plans:
	Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education
	East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education
	Limavady College of Further and Higher Education
	Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education
	North West Institute of Further and Higher Education
	Omagh College of Further and Higher Education.
	North East Institute of Further and Higher Education is currently developing a financial recovery plan.
	The position of these colleges for the 2002–03 financial year is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			 Colleges Total income Total expenditure Operating Surplus (deficit) Historic cost surplus (deficit) General reserve 
		
		
			 Castlereagh 8,064 7,277 787 908 324 
			 East Antrim 10,267 10,302 (35) 192 607 
			 Limavady 5,800 5,266 534 580 1,732 
			 Lisburn 8,532 8,391 141 395 188 
			 North East 14,432 15,004 (572) (151) (590) 
			 North West 25,438 24,730 708 971 (745) 
			 Omagh 6,582 6,220 362 523 1,202 
		
	
	In April 2003 the Department for Employment and Learning issued a document entitled "Guidance on Colleges in Recovery" to the FE sector. This document, which is based on best practice, sets out comprehensive guidance about the operation of the financial recovery process.

Further Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of Northern Ireland's further education colleges will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The review by the Department for Employment and Learning of its strategy for statutory further education in Northern Ireland is nearing completion. It is intended that the review will be published for consultation early in 2004.

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department.

Ian Pearson: Current figures show that 4,407 (14.8 per cent.) members of staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and the Northern Ireland Office, contribute to charity through the Give As You Earn scheme, although this is unlikely to fully reflect the charitable activity of employees.
	The current monthly amount, in total, paid over through the scheme, via payroll, is £34,814.
	Since 2000, a promotion company, "Sharing The Caring", has had the operational responsibility for promoting the Give As You Earn scheme within the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Northern Ireland Office. Through Sharing The Caring, staff can contribute to any charity they choose, provided it is a registered charity. Sharing The Caring representatives follow an on-going programme of visits to civil service buildings/locations during which they engage with staff to encourage them to sign up to the scheme. Since 2000, 308 such visits have been carried out.

Northern Ireland Civil Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the strike action undertaken by the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Ian Pearson: Best available estimates indicate that just over 11,000 staff were absent without authority on 11 December 2003, equivalent to around 40 per cent. of the total non-industrial workforce. There was some disruption to a number of services including, for example, social security, child support, and driver and vehicle licensing and testing. On the whole, however, departments' contingency plans served to minimise inconvenience to the public.

Palliative Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to increase the number of palliative care beds in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: In March 2003 the Department asked Health and Social Services Boards to undertake an assessment of need for additional capacity in inpatient palliative care. This work is expected to be completed by autumn 2004. In addition, the Regional Cancer Services Framework Steering Group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, will be considering, among other things, the future development of palliative care, including the level of inpatient palliative care.

Ports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total tonnage of cargo brought into (a) Larne and (b) Belfast ports was, including both bulk and unit loads, in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
	
		Tonnage of goods through Larne and Belfast Ports 1998—2002: Inward traffic -- Thousand tonnes
		
			  Larne Belfast 
		
		
			 1998 2,902 9,168 
			 1999 3,074 9,740 
			 2000 2,236 9,736 
			 2001 1,852 9,804 
			 2002(15) 2,212 9,197 
		
	
	(15) The most recent year for which figures are available
	A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

Ports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the weight of cargo leaving (a) Larne and (b) Belfast ports was in each of the last five years; and what the percentage change was in each year.

Ian Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
	
		Tonnage of goods through Larne and Belfast ports 1998—2002: Outward traffic -- Thousand tonnes
		
			  Larne Belfast Larne% change Belfast% change 
		
		
			 1998 2,296 3,066   
			 1999 2,504 3,122 9.1 1.8 
			 2000 2,271 2,748 -9.3 -12.0 
			 2001 1,668 3,598 -26.6 30.9 
			 2002(16) 2,083 3,628 24.9 0.8 
		
	
	(16) The most recent year for which information is available)
	A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

Ports

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) inward and (b) outward traffic at Northern Ireland's ports comprised foreign unit load cargo in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: The information sought is set out in the following table.
	
		Percentage of inward and outward traffic at Northern Ireland's ports comprised of Foreign unit load cargo 1998–02
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Inward traffic 
			 1998 2.9  
			 1999 2.9 
			 2000 3.3 
			 2001 3.4 
			 2002(17) 4.0 
			 Outward traffic 
			 1998 3.7 
			 1999 3.8 
			 2000 3.9 
			 2001 4.0 
			 2002(17) 4.0 
		
	
	(17) The most recent year for which information is available
	A new EC Maritime Statistics Directive (Council Directive 95/64/EC on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods and passengers by sea) has recently been implemented in the UK (1 January 2000). This required a complete overhaul of data collection methods. It should be noted that the different collection system for freight traffic has resulted in some discontinuities in data series between 2000, 2001, 2002 and previous years.

Public Transport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average age is of (a) Ulsterbus and (b) Citybus vehicle stock.

John Spellar: Translink has advised that at 15 December 2003 the average age of the Ulsterbus fleet was 11.95 years and the average age of the Citybus fleet was 8.46 years.

Public Transport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to (a) improve access to public transport and (b) encourage the use of public transport by older people.

John Spellar: The Department for Regional Development is funding the purchase by Northern Ireland Railways of 23 new trains which will comply with the requirements of the Rail Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Department is also providing grant aid to assist Translink to purchase 190 new buses which meet the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. All new developments at bus and railway stations include any necessary work to improve access for people with disabilities. Older people are encouraged to use public transport by the provision of Senior Smartpasses, which enable those over 65 to travel free.

Public Transport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to support the provision of park and ride facilities outside Greater Belfast; what plans he has to develop secure interchange sites at Trooperslane and Corrs Corner; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Public Transport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to develop bus lanes and quality bus corridors outside Greater Belfast.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Public Transport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to promote the development of park and ride facilities; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Rail Freight

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tonnes of rail freight were carried from Northern Ireland to (a) Great Britain, (b) the Republic of Ireland and (c) other European destinations in each of the last five years.

John Spellar: Translink has advised that all rail freight carried from Northern Ireland in the last five years went to the Republic of Ireland. The quantities carried in each of the last five years were as follows:
	
		
			  Tonnes 
		
		
			 1998 52,300 
			 1999 72,200 
			 2000 48,700 
			 2001 43,900 
			 2002 26,500

Remicade

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are waiting for treatment with Remicade; and how many of these people have been waiting (a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months, (d) between 18 and 24 months and (e) longer than 24 months.

Angela Smith: Remicade is one of the specialist medicines, known as biologic therapies, used for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis. Information in relation to the number of people waiting for all biologic therapy treatment and the length of time they have been waiting is as follows:
	
		
			 Rheumatoid Arthritis Number 
		
		
			 Less than six months 89 
			 Between six and 12 months 91 
			 Between 12 and 18 months 77 
			 Between 18 and 24 months 79 
			 Longer than 24 months 53 
		
	
	The decision as to whether to prescribe Remicade or another medicine for the treatment of an individual patient is a matter for clinical judgment and is the individual responsibility of the prescriber at the time when treatment is to commence.

Road Accidents

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal road accidents there were on the A2 Bangor to Belfast road in each of the past five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such accidents.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Road Congestion

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce tolls on roads in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to tackle road congestion in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) for NI 2002–2012, whose strategic direction and underlying principles were endorsed by the Assembly in July 2002, contains no proposals to introduce tolling in NI. It does, however, contain a commitment to monitor the impacts of fiscal demand management measures, such as road user charging.
	In the meantime, the issue of road congestion is being addressed as part of the wider transportation picture set out in the RTS. The RTS proposes that congestion be tackled through selected highway improvements and measures designed to encourage greater use of public transport, walking and cycling facilities. Overall it envisages £427 million in strategic highway improvements, £250 million on rail services, £98 million on bus services and "park and ride" in Belfast and almost £40 million on making it easier to walk or cycle. The actual level of resources invested in transportation will, however, depend on the normal budgetary processes, satisfactory economic appraisals and satisfactory progress through statutory processes (where relevant).
	The RTS will be progressed through three Transport Plans—the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan, the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan and the Sub-Regional Transport Plan. The first two plans have reached an advanced stage with 'Emerging Plans' being subject to separate working conferences earlier this year. Both plans are expected to be published in the first half of 2004.

Road Haulage Industry

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many tonnes of freight were transported by road within Northern Ireland by goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes in each of the last five years.

John Spellar: Figures for the Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Tonnes 
		
		
			 1998 4,1232 
			 1999 4,5519 
			 2000 4,5692 
			 2001 3,5089 
			 2002 4,8116

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with private landlords regarding proposals to pay housing benefit directly to tenants; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Chris Pond: The Department consulted both formally and informally on the Government's proposals for a Local Housing Allowance (LHA), which is now in operation or about to go-live in 9 "Pathfinder" local authorities.
	The formal consultation exercise was, as is customary, conducted through the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). The Committee received 73 responses from both individuals and organisations with an interest in the LHA reforms, including representative bodies of landlords. SSAC made a number of recommendations, to which the Government responded. The relevant Command Paper, 5955 was presented to Parliament on 24 September 2003 and is available in the Library.
	Additionally, Ministers and officials have received numerous informal representations about the Allowance. Many have been from landlords who have concerns about our decision to remove routine direct payments to them.We welcome this feedback and we are now encouraging it routinely in newsletters that the Department issues to landlords and welfare groups in the Pathfinder areas. We remain committed to the idea of making payment of Benefit to the tenant where possible in order to encourage them to take more personal responsibility for managing their affairs.
	Discussions are ongoing and the views and experiences of landlords will form an important part of the Department's evaluation of the Local Housing Allowance.

Interest Rates

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to bring calculations of claimants' notional rates of interest on savings into line with current average building society and bank deposit account interest rates.

Chris Pond: The tariff income rules, whereby money is deducted from benefit in respect of capital, are not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing that capital.
	The capital rules within the income related benefits exist to ensure that help is targeted on those with least resources while not completely denying help for those who have moderate amounts of capital. Where customers have substantial capital, current rules ensure that some of those funds are used for their maintenance before their needs can be met from public funds. The tariff income rules are designed to avoid a "cliff edge" effect which would occur if there was a simple capital limit beyond which benefit is completely withdrawn.
	We have made it clear that we will keep the treatment of capital in the income related benefits under review so that they strike a reasonable balance between providing targeted support for those who need it and not penalising those who have acted responsibly by saving.

Pensioner Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what time-frame he has set for ending pensioner poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: One of the Government's key priorities is to tackle pensioner poverty. We want all pensioners to have a secure income in retirement and to share in the rising prosperity of the country.
	Our strategy is already working. Compared with the 1997 system, as a result of Government measures, from April 2004, on average pensioner households will be £1,250 a year better off in real terms. Our target is, that by 2006, Pension Credit should be in payment to at least 3 million pensioner households.
	In addition, we also recognise the need for long-term solutions. Our proposals in Action on Occupational Pensions—Working and Saving for Retirement contain measures for reform to address the issues faced by an ageing population.

Age Discrimination

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many employers have adopted the voluntary Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of companies which have had a recruitment policy which is disposed against the employment of older workers, in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available. However, research shows that in the 18 months after the introduction of the code in June 1999 that awareness of the code rose from 14 per cent. to 37 per cent. of employers, and the proportion of employers who reported that age was considered as a selection criterion when recruiting fell from 27 per cent. to 13 per cent. We will be commissioning further research with employers in the coming year.

Age Discrimination

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to persuade employers of the economic benefits of having an age-diverse workforce.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government are taking to promote the Age Positive campaign among (a) employers and (b) older people.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are committed to extending opportunities for older workers and to introducing age discrimination legislation in 2006. Under the legislation, compulsory retirement ages are likely to be unlawful unless employers can show that they are objectively justified.
	In the meantime, our Age Positive campaign is encouraging employers to adopt non-ageist employment practises. Through Age Positive, we are promoting the business benefits of an age diverse workforce by encouraging employers to adopt the voluntary Code of Practice, "Age Diversity at Work, A Practical Guide For Business". Over 750,000 copies of the Age Positive Code have been issued to employers and individuals and it is available on the Age Positive website, which has 75,000 visits per month.
	The Age Positive campaign is widely promoted to employers and individuals through advertising, the website and press features in national, local and specialist publications and at exhibitions and workshops for employers. Age Positive awards help to further publicise the achievements of businesses and individuals who conquer age prejudice.
	Age Positive also works closely with organisations such the Federation of Small Businesses, Employers Forum on Age, Institute of Directors, TUC, CBI and Age Concern.

Bank and Post Office Card Accounts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has offered to those using Jobcentres in the use of bank accounts and Post Office Card Accounts for their payments.

Chris Pond: The purpose of the information campaign supporting the move to Direct Payment is to ensure that customers choose the account option that best meets their needs and circumstances.
	In the case of Jobseekers, we believe they will be better prepared for employment if they already have a current or basic bank account into which their employer can pay their wages, which the Post Office card account does not allow.

Benefit and Pensions Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those customers invited to transfer to direct payment who (a) do not reply and (b) reply and decline a direct payment option will be automatically transferred to the exceptions service; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: We will be further contacting customers who continue to be paid by order book. Any customers who cannot open or operate a bank account, or fail to respond to our mailing will continue to be paid by their current method of payment.
	Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of those customers who are unable to operate an account. Detailed arrangements for this method of payment are not finalised yet, but it is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.

Benefit and Pensions Payment

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what priorities he has set in relation to increasing direct payment of benefits and pensions.

Chris Pond: The Department has a published Public Service Agreement target that by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment.
	The move to Direct Payment is progressing well. Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library updated every four weeks.

Benefit Claims

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve the operation of procedures for claiming (a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance.

Maria Eagle: We keep all of our procedures for claiming benefits under review and make changes where appropriate to existing processes and claim forms to ensure that all our customers receive the best possible service.
	The Disability and Carers Service has embarked upon a major programme of process simplification and re-engineering, including substantially modernised information technology, which aims to produce a much improved service to its customers over the next three years. It is presently trialling an improved claim form for disability living allowance customers and expects to introduce an internet based claim form in 2004.

Benefit Payments

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether individuals are permitted to cash giros at post offices after 2 pm.

Chris Pond: Individuals are permitted to cash a valid, uncrossed Girocheque at any time when a post office is open for business.

Benefit Payments

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what evaluation he has made of the social benefits to (a) individuals and (b) local communities of direct payment of benefits and pensions through (i) Post Office accounts and (ii) bank accounts;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the relative (a) availability and (b) accessibility of (i) banks and (ii) post offices in relation to the payment of benefits and pensions;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) urban and (b) rural regeneration of the policy on direct payment of benefits and pensions.

Chris Pond: The move to Direct Payment and the introduction of universal banking services has resulted in a number of benefits for individuals and the communities in which they live, particularly in terms of increasing customer choice, helping to address financial exclusion and improving access to banking for all.
	The new arrangements ensure a more modern, efficient and reliable service that increases customer choice, provides better value for the taxpayer, cuts fraud, and boosts financial inclusion. More customers are now paid into an account than by order book or girocheque.
	Customers have more choice about where and when they collect their money and there are a range of accounts that people can access at Post Office branches. There are a number of advantages to having a bank or building society account and over 85 per cent. of DWP customers already have access to a suitable account with the figure rising to 90 per cent. for pensioners. But this currently leaves around 3.5 million adults in the UK without access to a bank account and not able to take advantage of, for example, the savings to utility bills that come through making payments by Direct Debit from an account. Direct Payment will help spread financial inclusion by increasing the number of people who have bank accounts and giving them opportunities to benefit—this includes the new easy to operate basic bank accounts.
	New banking services, including the introduction of the Post Office card account, are central to the Post Office management's strategy for the network. For example, 20 million bank customers can now access their current accounts electronically in Post Office branches. Banking at Post Offices has enabled banking to return to many rural areas where the last bank branch was closed many years ago. It has also introduced banking services into many deprived urban areas for the first time.
	The Government are providing significant investment for the Post Office network—some £2 billion in total during the five year period from April 2003, including £450 million to support the rural network until 2006. In addition the Government have instructed the Post Office to prevent avoidable closures in the rural Post Office network.

Bereavement Benefit

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were refused bereavement benefit in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; and what the reasons given were for refusal, broken down by (i) numbers and (ii) percentages.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Child Support

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when the new system for calculating child maintenance will be implemented with regard to existing cases;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to remove differences in treatment of child support assessments between existing and new cases.

Chris Pond: We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well.

Child Support

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what order the process of moving Child Support Agency maintenance cases onto the new system of assessment will be introduced in the regions.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Wycombe (Paul Goodman) on 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 83W.

Child Support

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people paying child support under the new scheme who will be overpaying for (a) a year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years as a result of phasing in;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average amount per year which people paying child support under the new scheme will be overpaying as a result of phasing in.

Chris Pond: No one will overpay as a result of phasing. The phasing provisions are set in legislation. They give parents who have existing child support assessments time to adjust to the new amounts.

Child Support

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the loss incurred by each parent each month whose Child Support Agency case is not transferred from the old to the new scheme;
	(2)  whether parents who are incurring losses as a result of Child Support Agency cases not being transferred to the new scheme are entitled to compensation; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Until the new scheme legislation is commenced for the bulk of the old scheme caseload, old scheme cases remain subject to the old rules, and so the question of loss does not arise.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme;
	(2)  what plans he has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data;
	(4)  how many anomalies, inaccuracies and pieces of incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme;
	(5)  how long he expects the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme to take; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr Paul Goodman, dated 18 December 2003
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked about the work involved in transferring old Child Support Agency cases to the new scheme. You also asked a number of related questions as follows:
	What proportion of the anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data contained in the Child Support Agency records of cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme require human intervention.
	What percentage of the Child Support Agency cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme contain anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data.
	How many anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are contained in the Child Support Agency records of the cases waiting to be transferred from the old to the new scheme.
	How long will it take to do the work needed to bring records of Child Support Agency cases up to a standard acceptable for transfer to the new scheme.
	and
	What plans the Secretary of State has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement.
	The existing computer system contains little validation around data entry and we have been progressively working through certain fields to ensure that apparent anomalies, inaccuracies or incomplete data are corrected. In designing and developing computer support for the new Child Support arrangements we created a series of 'business rules' designed to ensure the accuracy of data flowing from one system to the other. We have not yet finalised our data migration strategy or the timetable for that work. In doing so we will need to establish what business rules are applied at the point of migration and what data cleanse activity might sensibly be deferred until later in the process. In making this judgement our prime aim will be to ensure that clients gain the most accurate possible calculation and have a clear and responsive channel open to them to challenge and/or correct any errors. It is not possible to provide the further detail you require in advance of finalising our migration plans.

Child Support Agency

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the policy of his Department that officials of the Child Support Agency should seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Christopher Chope
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked whether it is the policy of the Department for Work and Pensions that officials of the Child Support Agency seek to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their honourable Member.
	The Child Support Agency certainly does not have a policy of seeking to discourage their dissatisfied customers from seeking redress through their Member of Parliament. Instead it has a policy of providing customers with the necessary information to enable them to make a complaint effectively. To this end the Agency has published a leaflet "How to complain about the Child Support Agency" advising customers of their rights and procedure to follow if they have a complaint about the service it provides. This leaflet is freely available from any local office of the Department or by contacting the National Enquiry Line; it is also available via the Agency's web site on the Internet.
	The leaflet includes guidance about contacting Members of Parliament for advice. It also describes the circumstances under which the Agency would consider making a special payment and signposts the customer to the "Financial Redress for Maladministration" booklet published by the Department.

Child Support Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to transfer the old CSA caseload to the new system; and if a new application will be required.

Chris Pond: We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well. A new application will not be required.

Child Support Agency

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs. Samantha Mucklow of Solihull.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement about the performance of the Child Support Agency; and if he will cause replies to be made to Mrs Samantha Mucklow of Solihull.
	A report on the performance of the Child Support Agency was placed in the Library on the 18th November 2003.
	As individual cases are confidential I will write to you privately concerning Mrs Mucklow, when I reply to your letter of 28th November 2003.

Child Support Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he estimates that Child Support Agency cases existing prior to 3 March will be transferred to the new scheme.

Chris Pond: We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new scheme is working well.

Child Trust Fund

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the beneficiary of a Child Trust Fund will have the savings in the fund taken into consideration when an assessment is made for Jobseeker's Allowance.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 15 December 2003, Official Report, columns 686–87W.

Correspondence

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letters from the honourable Member for Tatton to the Minister for Pensions of 12 March and 25 April.

Malcolm Wicks: I regret we have no record of having received the hon. Member's letters. If he would forward copies I will arrange for them to be considered urgently.

Council Tax Benefit

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Blackpool received council tax benefit in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The number of households where the recipient and/or their partner was aged 60 or over, and was in receipt of council tax benefit from Blackpool Borough Council at August 2003, is 7,700.
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming housing benefit, which may be a single person, a couple or a family.
	2. The figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Figures exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count.

Council Tax Benefit

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) other Government Departments, (b) voluntary sector organisations and (c) local authorities on measures to improve take-up of council tax benefit among pensioners.

Chris Pond: There have been a number of discussions between officials of this Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and representatives of the Local Authority Associations. In addition, Ministers have met with the Local Government Association and with Help the Aged, following their report on "The impact of council tax on older people's income".
	On Monday 15 December 2003, we announced a campaign to further support local authorities in their statutory duty to promote take-up of council tax benefit. On the same day, departmental officials wrote about the campaign to the National Assembly for Wales and the Wales Office; the Scottish Executive and the Scotland Office; voluntary sector organisations and other advisory groups with an interest in take-up such as Help the Aged, Age Concern and Shelter; and Local Authority Associations.

Council Tax Benefit

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding council tax benefit restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: We have received several representations from local government and voluntary agencies, such as Help the Aged, regarding the council tax benefit restriction.
	As we announced on 15 December 2003, Official Report, columns 125–26WS, we have decided to abolish the council tax benefit restriction from April 2004.

Departmental Hospitality

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's hospitality budget was for (a) 2003–04 and (b) each of the last six years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure by main budget heading.

Des Browne: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the following table.
	All expenditure on official hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. It is typically incurred by the various DWP Businesses to mark the launch of significant initiatives—for example: the introduction of New Deal 50+; the national introduction of New Deal for Partners; launching call centres for jobseekers; implementation of Employment Zones; and launch of ONE pilots in conjunction with local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors.
	The Department does not allocate specific budgets for official hospitality and it is not possible to provide expenditure information back to 1997–98 for the Department for Work and Pensions, which has existed only since 1 April 2001. The figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 therefore are the only expenditure figures relating to the Department for Work and Pensions.
	In order to provide figures which are reasonably comparable, information for the earlier years has been provided by combining expenditure on "official hospitality" by the former Department of Social Security (DSS), and on "official entertainment" by the former Employment Service (ES) which, together with relatively small numbers of staff from the Employment Policy Divisions of the former Department for Education and Employment (DFEE), combined to form the new Department for Work and Pensions. However, the expenditure incurred by the Employment Policy Divisions of DFEE is not separately identifiable.
	Estimated expenditure 1 on official hospitality on this basis is as follows:
	1 Figures rounded to the nearest £000.
	
		
			  £  
		
		
			 1997–98 46,000 DSS+ES 
			 1998–99 86,000 DSS+ES 
			 1999–2000 327,000 DSS+ES 
			 2000–01 127,000 DSS+ES 
			 2001–02 155,000 DWP 
			 2002–03 250,000 DWP 
		
	
	Note:
	Outturn figures for 2003–04 will be available in spring 2004.

Disability Living Allowance Fraud

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what checks the Government have in place continually to assess a person's eligibility for the disability living allowance in order to protect the system against fraudulent claims.

Chris Pond: The DLA Periodic Enquiry has introduced checks of Disability Living Allowance awards to ensure that those entitled to the benefit receive, and continue to receive, their correct entitlement, although it is not regarded primarily as an anti fraud measure.
	The process involves gathering up-to-date evidence about the customer's care and mobility needs, and making adjustments to the award of the benefit where appropriate. Changes in awards may be appropriate for example where the customer's condition improves or worsens, or where they adapt to their disability and therefore have fewer needs. Since the inception of Periodic Enquiry, 70 per cent. of the cases examined have resulted in no change to entitlement. Of the 30 per cent. of cases where the level of entitlement changed, two thirds resulted in entitlement to a higher level of award and in the remaining one third of cases entitlement either reduced or was extinguished altogether.

E-mail

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inquiries his Department have received from pensioners by e-mail in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: From December 2002 to November 2003 a total of 21,806 emails were received from pensioners through our website. This figure does not include emails sent directly to The Pension Service Chief Executive's office, Ministers'offices, or other departmental email addresses that pensioners may have obtained through sources other than our website. Figures fore-mail correspondence are unavailable before December 2002.

Employment Retention and Advancement Project

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) status of and (b) timescale for completion of the Employment Retention and Advancement Project is.

Des Browne: The Employment Retention and Advancement Project went live on 27 October 2003 in the following Jobcentre Plus districts:
	South East Wales;
	North East London;
	Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute;
	Gateshead and South Tyneside;
	Derbyshire.
	Manchester will begin delivering the programme on 5 January 2004.
	The Employment Retention and Advancement Scheme will recruit customers for one year and the programme will run for three years. The programme will end in July 2007 except in Manchester where it will end in September 2007.

Exceptions Service

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether claimants who have failed to respond to the Government's Direct Payment invitation letter before 2005 will be automatically transferred to the exceptions service; and what criteria will need to be met to qualify for the exceptions service.

Chris Pond: We will be further contacting customers who continue to be paid by orderbook.
	We have always recognised that there will be a small number of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of customers in these circumstances. It is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Maria Eagle: The Government are committed to supporting the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of Fairtrade products. Where practicable, the Department aims to purchase sustainable goods for sale on departmental premises and for receptions and meetings.
	We are currently discussing with our estates partner, LandSecurities Trillium, the feasibility of introducing a target to increase the supply of Fairtrade goods. However, in offices that do not have catering facilities, this is wholly dependent on the availability of Fairtrade goods through small local suppliers.

Financial Services Industry

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK financial services industry regarding the transfer of jobs abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
	I am in regular contact with the financial services industry, as with many other sectors. In relation to the transfer of jobs abroad, we need to understand better what is happening, and to this end we have launched a consultation document inviting views from businessesincluding those from the financial services industry, employees and their unions, and consumer groups. We will also be holding a round-table seminar in the New Year, to help inform the debate on the impacts of offshoring. The Government are also an observer on the Scottish Financial Services Strategy Group, recently set up by the Scottish Executive, which has a remit to boost financial services in Scotland and is also considering the impacts of outsourcing.

Guaranteed Minimum Pension

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to re-instate the full guaranteed minimum pension for members of final salary schemes where the assets of the scheme are insufficient to buy the full amount of guaranteed minimum pension when the scheme is wound-up.

Malcolm Wicks: Members of contracted-out occupational pension schemes can already, in certain circumstances, have some or all of their state scheme rights restored for the period they were contracted-out.
	Deemed buybackthe mechanism for restoring members' guaranteed minimum pensionswas introduced as part of the Pensions Act 1995. Deemed buyback can be applied when the date the scheme started to wind up is on or after 6 April 1997. It is dependant on the scheme meeting certain conditions.
	Where deemed buyback applies, the Inland Revenue can accept a lower amount from underfunded schemes than it would normally cost to restore the individual's rights in the state scheme. The actual transfer value held for each scheme member for whom deemed buyback applies is paid to the Inland Revenue, with the result of either the remainder being deemed, or the member's rights being partially instead of fully restored, thereby extinguishing the scheme's liability to provide the member with contracted-out benefits.
	The final decision to buyback into the state scheme will be taken by the individual scheme member.

Guaranteed Minimum Pension

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate the Government have made of the (a) proportion and (b) number of people who are entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension from their contracted-out final salary pension schemes who will not receive their full entitlement due to the winding up of their employer's final salary pension scheme;
	(2)  what estimate the Government have made of the number of people who are entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension from final salary pension schemes that (a) have been wound up and (b) are being wound up by (i) solvent and (ii) insolvent employers.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not possible to provide accurate estimates of the number of people entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension or those who might not receive their full entitlement in these circumstances. In order to produce such estimates, data on individual schemes' funding positions would be required. However, detailed information on this area is not available from existing data sources. Funding position information is particularly hard to obtain, given that it is highly sensitive to investment decisions and conditions in financial markets.
	The Pensions Schemes Registry (PSR), administered by the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulatory Authority (OPRA), holds information on the number of final salary schemes which are currently in the winding-up process and the number of schemes which have entered and completed winding-up. The registry database is, however, limited in a number of ways as described in the following footnote. Consequently, it does not provide a continuous record of the status of schemes, though it nevertheless remains the most comprehensive source of information available on the aggregate number of pension schemes in the UK.
	Note:
	The Pension Schemes Registry (PSR) is not designed or intended to provide a comprehensive or continuous statistical record of the status of schemes. The PSR registers schemes for tracing purposes and collects the levy from pension schemes, including those in the process of winding-up. New scheme data are being reported to the PSR on a continuous basis. Therefore, the figures are subject to continuous revision. When a scheme has changed status, the previous status of the scheme is not recorded on the registry. Schemes have up to 12 months to notify OPRA of any status change.

Incapacity Benefit

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, of 1 December, Official Report, column 14W], what plans he has to invite (a) private companies and (b) voluntary organisations to pilot incapacity benefit programmes.

Maria Eagle: Plans for the Incapacity Benefit Reforms pilots have already been put in place and the first three began operations on 27 October; planning for the next four pilot areas is well-advanced and operations will commence in April 2004. The pilots are managed and run by Jobcentre Plus. From January 2004 one key element of the reforms, the condition management programmes, will be delivered in collaboration with NHS Primary Care Trusts (local health boards, in Wales). In some pilot areas the NHS may decide to contract with local providers from the private/voluntary sector in order to meet service demands.
	The New Deal for Disabled People continues to support people on incapacity benefits into employment with a national network of Job Brokers. Organisations offering Job Broker services come from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

National Employment Panel

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the recommendations of the National Employment Panel for helping those on inactivity benefits back to work.

Des Browne: The National Employment Panel published their recommendations for increasing the numbers of lone parent who get, stay and progress in work in April this year in the report Work Works. A copy has been placed in the Library.

New Deal

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how long participants of the New Deal programme are tracked following completion of the programmes; and what independent assessment of the effectiveness of the timescale for tracking participants has been undertaken.

Des Browne: The tracking period for recording information on the destinations of leavers from New Deal programmes is 13 weeks. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of this tracking period has not been conducted, although research on the New Deal programme has been conducted by independent organisations, including that undertaken by the Policy Studies Institute and British Market Research Bureau (ESR67, March 2001), which is available in the Library.
	On the 16 December 2003, we announced the launch of the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study which will link benefit and programme information held by this Department with employment records from the Inland Revenue. This work will improve our understanding of what happens in the longer term to people who leave our programmes, including the New Deal. We are also conducting a study to provide further information on New Deal unknown destinations and expect to publish the report on this survey next year.

New Deal

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per place was in the last 12 months of participants on (a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (c) the New Deal for Disabled People.

Des Browne: The New Deals are designed to ensure that individuals get the help they need by offering a tailored package of provision. There is, therefore, no such thing as an average participant, thus data is not collected on the average cost per place.
	However, as part of our evaluation of the New Deal programmes, average cost per additional job figures are available for New Deal for Young People participants; in 2000, we estimated that the average cost of a young person moving into work through the New Deal for Young People was around 4,000 per additional job.
	In addition, cost benefit analysis published in June 2003 found that running the New Deal for Lone Parents in 200001 resulted in a net exchequer saving of 1,600 for each Lone Parent moving into work.
	Equivalent estimates of cost per job are not available for the other New Deal programmes.

New Deal

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the time a person must be unemployed before being given New Deal 50 plus support.

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make the help and advice offered by New Deal 50 plus available immediately rather than after a period of six months unemployment.

Des Browne: Currently around 75 per cent. of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance aged 50 and over leave the benefit within the first six months. Therefore, New Deal 50 plus eligibility is set at six months to target help on those people who are in need of extra support to move into work.

New Deal

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) applied for and (b) received the 1,500 in-work training grant offered by the New Deal 50 Plus.

Des Browne: Between April 2000 and March 2003 5,520 people applied for and received the in-work training grant offered by the New Deal 50 plus. Jobcentre plus Personal Advisers discuss and agree training plans with eligible clients before the training is undertaken, therefore all those making an application will receive a grant.

New Deal

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 325W, on New Deal for Young People, how many New Deal for Young People leavers moved into employment in each month between January 1998 and January 2003; and what his assessment is of the trend in the percentage of New Deal leavers moving into employment during that period.

Des Browne: The information has been placed in the Library.
	New Deal for Young People has been successful in helping more than 460,000 young people into work. It has helped reduce youth unemployment to around its lowest level since the mid 1970s, and, together with our other welfare to work policies, has been instrumental in virtually eradicating long-term youth unemployment.
	The percentage of people leaving New Deal for Young People for sustained employment may be distorted by the trend in leavers to unknown destinations, which has been steadily increasing since 1998. However, research undertaken on the destination of people leaving New Deal suggests that leavers to unknown destinations are just as likely to move into jobs as people leaving to known destinations i.e. 57 per cent.
	On 16 December, we announced the launch of the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study which will link benefit and programme information held by this Department with employment records from the Inland Revenue. This work will improve our understanding of what happens in the longer term to people who leave our programmes, including the New Deal. We are also conducting a study to provide further information on New Deal unknown destinations and expect to publish the report on this survey next year.

Payment Modernisation Project

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the document, Payment Modernisation Project, sent to field directors on 7 October by Mr. Alan Linton of Jobcentre Plus;
	(2)  what advice has been given to field directors on encouraging more Jobcentre Plus customers to move to direct payment.

Chris Pond: The document has already been widely circulated to hon. Members-it is now placed in the Library as requested.
	The Department has a published PSA target that by 2005 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment.
	The primary purpose of this document was to act as a reminder to staff of the need to ensure that new Jobcentre Plus customers are paid by Direct Payment from the outset of their claim. The document was designed to equip staff with the factual information they need to provide to customers, in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances.

Pension Credit

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those in receipt of pension credit were not formerly receiving pensioners minimum income guarantee.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 30 November 2003 there were 302,000 Pension Credit households in Great Britain who were not formerly receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee.
	Notes:
	1. This figure was produced using data from the Generalised Matching Service (CMS), extracted at the week ending 14 November 2003 and up-rated to give an estimated figure at the end of November. Using end of November CMS data does not change the figure when rounding to the nearest thousand.
	Source:
	100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

Pension Credit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of individuals who are eligible for pension credit; how many individuals receive pension credit in each region; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. Information available as at the end of November, 2003 is set out in the following table.
	
		Numbers eligible and receipt of pension credit by region
		
			 Government Office Region Estimated number of households eligible for pension credit Pension credit recipients 
		
		
			 North East 250,000 125,000 
			 North West 500,000 281,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 350,000 200,000 
			 East Midlands 300,000 141,000 
			 West Midlands 350,000 213,000 
			 East 300,000 149,000 
			 London 450,000 231,000 
			 South East 350,000 205,000 
			 South West 300,000 174,000 
			 Wales 250,000 120,000 
			 Scotland 400,000 217,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. Figures are based on Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.
	3. Figures extracted weekend of 14/11/03 but rated up to give an estimated figure at end-November. Using end-November GMS data does not change the figures when rounding to the nearest thousand.
	4. Figures are for geographic Government Office Region (GOR) which is consistent with the Family Resource Survey, i.e. recipients have been assigned to a GOR according to where they live.
	5. Regional figures released in the December Progress Report published on 10 December are based on operational GORs.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

Pension Credit

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how much (a) single pensioners aged between 60 and 64, (b) single pensioners aged over 65, (c) pensioner couples aged between 60 and 65 and (d) pensioner couples aged over 65 will (i) receive and (ii) gain on average each week under the pension credit in each (A) constituency and (B) local authority area in Scotland.

Malcolm Wicks: The information has been placed in the Library.

Pension Credit

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change there will be in the number of pensioner households and individuals who will qualify for pension credit in April 2004 as a result of the minimum income guarantee being increased in line with earnings while the savings threshold rises in line with prices.

Malcolm Wicks: We estimate that around 50,000 households will become newly entitled to pension credit in April 2004 following the increase in the pension credit guarantee credit and savings credit threshold.
	Notes:
	1. The figure is based on the Department's Policy Simulation Model, which makes use of 2001/2 Family Resources Survey data, projected forward to reflect changes in incomes, taxes and benefit rates to 2003/4, to estimate the extent of entitlement to pension credit for each benefit unit on the survey.
	2. The estimate is subject to a significant margin of error and given the likely inaccuracy it has been rounded up to the nearest 50,000.

Pension Credit

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what he estimates (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples will on average receive each week from pension credit in Stoke-on-Trent in 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		Weekly average amount of pension credit in payment at the end of November 2003 -- 
		
			 Local Authority All Pension credit households Pension credit households Pension credit individuals 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Stoke-on-Trent 41.28 48.9 39.45 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.
	Data at 14 November 2003 has been rated up to give month end estimates.
	2. Local Authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

Pension Rights (Business Transfer)

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will include in the forthcoming Bill on company pensions proposals to assist employees whose pensions are affected by company take-over.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pensions Bill will include proposals to protect employees' on-going pension rights when affected by business transfer.
	TUPE Regulations do not currently provide any protection for employees' on-going occupational pension rights when businesses transfer. However, proposed legislation will require transferee employers to provide transferred employees, who were in an occupational pension scheme with the transferor employer, with either a defined benefit, defined contribution or stakeholder pension scheme. In addition, if the transferee employer sets up a defined contribution or stakeholder scheme, they must match employees' contributions up to 6 per cent. with more from either party at their discretion.
	The proposed debt on the employer regulations, published on 11 June 2003, will improve protection of employees' accrued rights if their scheme is wound up when their company is solvent. Legislation currently provides that, when a defined-benefit occupational pension scheme winds up, a deficiency in the pension fund becomes a debt on the employer. The proposed regulations will strengthen this protection by requiring that debt be calculated on the basis that a scheme wound up when the sponsoring employer is solvent should be able to meet the full costs of the rights accrued by scheme members.

Progress2Work

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Progress2Work has cost to date.

Des Browne: holding answer 15 December 2003
	Progress2work is one of a number of initiatives we are introducing to provide more help to those who face the greatest barriers to employment. The programme is being implemented in three stages from April 2002; the third and final stage of awarding contracts will be completed by March 2004.
	To the end of November 2003, 9 million had been spent on contracted provision for Progress2work. This figure excludes departmental administrative costs, which are not separately identified from other departmental running costs.

Rent Service (Correspondence)

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library (a) copies of his Department's correspondence since November 2001 with the Chief Executive of the Rent Service and (b) copies of the Chief Executive of the Rent Service's correspondence with the Rent Service's area manager for London.

Chris Pond: Correspondence between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Rent Service is exempt from disclosure under the code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Correspondence is largely of a confidential nature, under Part 2 paragraph 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and to identify that correspondence which is not confidential would incur disproportionate cost.
	Correspondence between the Chief Executive of the Rent Service's and the Rent Service's area manager for London is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister as the Rent Service is an executive agency of his Department.

Retirement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to implement flexible retirement ages.

Malcolm Wicks: We are committed to extending opportunities for older workers. Our Green Paper 'Simplicity, Security and Choice: Working and Saving for Retirement', December 2002, outlined a number of incentives to help implement flexible retirement ages.
	From 2005, we propose changing the tax rules to allow people to continue working for the sponsoring employer while drawing their occupational pension . We intend to introduce more generous increases for deferral of state pensions including the option of a lump sum payment.
	From October 2006, we will implement age legislation covering employment and vocational training. This will include making compulsory retirement ages unlawful except in those cases where employers can show they are objectively justified. We will work with employers and representative groups to develop best practice and ensure that occupational pension rules do not discourage flexible working.
	In addition to this our Age Positive Campaign will continue to work closely with employers promoting and building on the known business benefits of recruiting and retaining older workers as part of an age diverse workforce.
	This is all part of our aim to encourage a flexible approach to retirement and reverse the 'cliff edge' by providing choice and opportunity for people to stay in work longer.

Retirement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on (a) a flexible retirement age, (b) full employment for over 65s who wish to remain in work and (c) the operation of New Deal 50 plus to make support available immediately rather than after six months.

Malcolm Wicks: Our Green Paper 'Simplicity security and choice: Working and saving for retirement', in December 2002 set out our proposals for supporting flexible retirement and greater choice and opportunity for people to work up to and beyond state pension age where they wish.
	In response there was widespread support for flexible approaches to retirement, where that is based on individual choice and enables employers to retain experience and skills. Over 90 per cent. of respondents agreed with the proposal for individuals to be able to draw their occupational pension and continue working for the sponsor employer, with support coming from employers, individuals and representative organisations.
	Through our Age Positive campaign employers are increasingly expressing their support for removing compulsory retirement ages. However, some employers feel that retirement ages should be retained; the Department for Trade and Industry has been consulting on proposals for age legislation covering employment and are currently assessing the responses to inform a further consultation in 2004 on draft regulations.
	We have received a number of representations from organisations about the eligibility period for New Deal 50 plus. Currently, around 75 per cent. of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance aged 50 or over leave the benefit within the first six months; New Deal 50 plus eligibility is set at six months to specifically help those people who are in need of extra support to move into work.

Social Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance the Government is providing to lone parents who are living below benefit levels as a result of loan repayments to the Social Fund.

Chris Pond: The Social Fund is a vital source of support for people on low incomes, including lone parents.
	The Budgeting Loan scheme provides interest-free loans, available to those receiving income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance for at least 26 weeks and who satisfy the qualifying conditions. In addition, Crisis Loans are made to people who are suffering an emergency or disaster where there is no other means of preventing a serious risk to the health of the applicant or a member of their family.
	Repayment rates are set after taking account of deductions from benefit and all other debt repayment; where people find difficulty in meeting their loan repayments, they can apply to have their repayment terms reconsidered.

Social Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to replace the system of Social Fund loans with a grant system.

Chris Pond: We are considering the case for further reform of the Social Fund. However, interest-free loans allow efficient use of available resources to help large numbers of people, and have proven to be an effective way of enabling those on low incomes to cope with budgeting needs or short-term emergencies.
	In certain circumstances, non-repayable grants are available from the Social Fund. Community Care Grants are available for vulnerable people in a variety of circumstances. In addition the Social Fund provides grants to assist people with the costs associated with life events such as childbirth and bereavement.

Student Incomes

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of full-time students in households where (a) Income Support and (b) disability benefits are paid; and in how many cases in each year since 199798 the attribution of the value of loans, grants and bursaries has occurred.

Chris Pond: No information is available for disability benefits. However, Disability Living Allowance is not an income related benefit, and is therefore payable to anyone who meets the criteria, including students.
	The figures for numbers of students on income support are not available. The available information for students in receipt of a student loan and income support is in the table.
	
		Great Britain, Income Support benefit units with income recorded from a student loan at May each year from 200003
		
			  Number of benefit units 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2000 500 
			 2001 1,000 
			 2002 1,000 
			 2003 1,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Based on 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to sampling variation.
	3. Benefit units refers to cases with either the claimants and/or partner (if they have one) receiving income from a student loan.
	4. Information is not available prior to 2000.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent sample.

Student Incomes

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he proposes to make to the social security rules compelling full-time students in households reliant on benefits to take out or be deducted the full value of grants, loans and bursaries, in the light of the Government's proposals for higher education funding.

Chris Pond: The benefit rules are regularly updated in order to take account of changes to the student support system. We will continue to ensure that any payments in respect of fees and course-related expenses are disregarded in assessing benefits while ensuring that the benefits and student support systems do not duplicate each other in providing for maintenance costs.

Triplex Peterborough

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the pension fund prospects for employees at Triplex Peterborough.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government is aware of the situation of the employees at Triplex Peterborough, but has not made an assessment of the pension fund prospects in question. However, we have great sympathy for the uncertainties they, and other workers in similar circumstances, are facing in regard to their pensions.

Winter Fuel Payment

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003 in each constituency in Scotland other than Perth; and how many such forms have been submitted.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not readily available in the format requested but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available. However for all the constituencies in Scotland, excluding Perth, 3,337 claim forms have been issued so far for this winter and of those 2,504 have been returned.
	We are publicising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.
	Notes:
	Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many winter fuel payment claim forms have been issued in 2003; and how many claim forms were submitted before 19 September 2003 in order for people to receive their payment before Christmas, broken down by (a) region and (b) constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not readily available in the format requested but will be provided to the hon. Member and placed in the Library when it becomes available. However, the number of claim forms issued so far to people in Great Britain likely to become entitled for the first time to a Winter Fuel Payment is 302,353 and 171,547 claim forms were returned before 19 September 2003.
	We are publicising the availability of Winter Fuel Payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.
	Notes:
	Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on post codes.

Work and Pensions Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

Des Browne: Action Teams for Jobs, which were announced in May 2000, aim to help jobless people in the most employment deprived areas of the country find and remain in work. The St. Helens Action Team for Jobs was started in October 2000; it is wholly funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, receiving an annual budget of 400,000.
	St. Helens Action Team for Jobs is targeted at people in the following wards: Blackbrook; Sutton and Bold; Broad Oak; West Sutton; Parr and Hardshaw; and Queen's Park. The projected outcome was that the Action Team would find jobs for 280 people from the target group every year; so far the project has exceeded this target in each year. In the first nine months of 200304, the Action Team has helped 315 people into jobs.
	The Department also spends money on many other regional and national projects which also benefit those living in St. Helens.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 10 November 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. M. Sam.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied to my right hon. friend's letter of 10 November 2003 on 16 December 2003.

European Constitution

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) to discuss the European consititution.

Denis MacShane: During the period of the Convention on the Future of Europe, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had several meetings with my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Gisela Stuart). Since the start of the Intergovernmental Conference, however, there have been no official meetings. I have had several conversations on Europe with my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston.

European Constitution

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Estonian Government concerning prospects for a referendum in Estonia on the European Constitution; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed formally with the Estonian Government prospects for a referendum on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty. Our Embassy in Tallinn follows Estonian Government policy on this and other issues. The Estonian Government have said that it has no plans for a referendum.

Food Supplements Directive

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been given to the British embassies in each of the Member and Candidate States of the European Union about the practical implications for the UK health food sector of the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive; what action each embassy has been instructed to undertake to support the achievement of UK policy objectives in relation to the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Food Supplements Directive 2002 lays out a framework for the future setting of the maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. Following this, the European Commission has to make a proposal listing EU maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. It has not yet done so and we do not expect it to do so for another 23 years.
	The UK continues to press its viewwith the Commission and our EU partnersthat maximum levels should be set on a safety basis. Our overseas posts have been kept informed of the follow-up to the Directive and have been asked to echo our general line with their own contacts.

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department.

Mike O'Brien: The answer is as follows:
	225 (3.8 per cent.) Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme. The average total contribution is about 6,710 a month. In addition, many staff overseas give their time and money generously to local charities. We encourage staff to support their chosen charities through this scheme and have recently taken a number of steps to give it a greater profile, including information on the FCO intranet, a mail shot to all posts and dissemination of publicity posters.

Guantanamo Bay

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Attorney-General on sending Crown Prosecutors to Guantanamo Bay to consider what charges might be brought against the British detainees.

Chris Mullin: None. Any prosecution of the detainees in the UK would be a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Guantanamo Bay

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency arrangements have been made for the transport of British detainees in Guantanamo Bay to the United Kingdom to stand trial.

Chris Mullin: None. Discussions between the Government and the US Administration on the position of all the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay continue. We have discussed, and are discussing, a range of options with the US, including the possibility of repatriation. The question of whether there will be a prosecution in the UK is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

Guantanamo Bay

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the cases of the British prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay.

Chris Mullin: Discussions between the Government and the US administration on the position of all the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay continue. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during Prime Minister's questions on 22 October (Official Report, Columns 632633),  . . . there are two alternatives: either sufficient undertakings will be given about the form of trial that the detainees will have under a military commission, or they will be returned to the United Kingdom. We hope to resolve the situation soon.

Iraq

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Iraq Survey Group is expected to make its (a) next report and (b) final report.

Denis MacShane: There is no set timetable for reporting by the Iraq Survey Group.

Mrs. Heather Saunders

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Mrs. Heather Saunders.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Mrs. Heather Saunders on 10 November 2003.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the elections for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Parliament on 14 December.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement the day after the elections in northern Cyprus. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/foreign-secretary.
	We remain committed to seeking a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus on the basis of the UN plan. We urge all concerned to seize the opportunity presented by this election outcome. What is now required is a clear demonstration of political willingness to build on this result and to resume substantive settlement negotiations on the basis of the UN Secretary General's proposals as soon as possible.

Olympic Games

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposals by Greece for an Olympic Truce during the Olympic games in the summer of 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The UK supports the idea of the Olympic Truce. It was pleased to co-sponsor the United Nations General Assembly resolution presented by Greece this year on 'Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal', which included the concept of the Olympic Truce. Additionally, as a member of the European council, the UK agreed the presidency conclusions in Brussels on 12 December 2003, that The European Council supports the idea of an Olympic Truce.

Pitcairn Island

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Pitcairn Island criminal cases which are to be tried in New Zealand are expected to be heard; what discussions his Department have held with the Pitcairn (a) Chief Justice and (b) Supreme Court on this matter; and if he will list those who occupy the positions of (i) Lord Chief Justice and (ii) judges of the Pitcairn Supreme Court.

Mike O'Brien: No date has yet been fixed for the trials, and no discussions have taken place between the Governor and the Chief Justice on their timing. It would be inappropriate to do so at present since the Supreme Court is still hearing preliminary arguments.
	The Chief Justice of the Pitcairn Supreme Court is Judge Charles Blackie. The other two Supreme Court judges are Judge Jane Lovell-Smith and Judge Russell Johnson.

Roger Short

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to honour the memory of Consul-General Roger Short.

Mike O'Brien: A memorial service was held in Istanbul this week for Roger Short, and services for all those who lost their lives will be held in Istanbul early in the new year. We are discussing separately with Mr. Short's family and the families of the other members of staff who were killed what other forms of commemoration would be appropriate.

Student Visas

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 239W, on student visas, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increased number of (i) applications for student visas and (ii) refusals; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Government have not directly commissioned any research into the increase in student applications. However, the British Council, which is partly funded by the FCO, has recently carried out research on the results of the Prime Minister's Initiative for international student recruitment which was launched in June 1999. Current indications are that the increases in the number of foreign student visa applications result from the success of the PMI marketing campaign aimed at attracting foreign nationals to study in the United Kingdom.
	In 2000 there were 125,139 student applications of which 16.1 per cent. fell for refusal.
	In 200203 there were 181,905 student applications of which 28.9 per cent. fell for refusal.
	All visa applications are assessed individually on their own merits so it is not possible to draw any general conclusions for the rise in the refusal rate. Possible factors might include the abolition of pre-assessment by UK visas (under which applicants who were unlikely to be successful were given the option to withdraw before the application was formally made) and improved methods of detecting forged documents.

UN Declaration of Human Rights

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list countries which he considers to be in breach of Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights; in which respects each country is in breach; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We condemn instances where individuals or groups are persecuted because of their religion or belief. Where we believe a state to be in breach of its obligations in international human rights law, such as the obligation in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to ensure the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, we take action, either alone or with our EU partners, on a case by case basis. Through our biannual Freedom of Religion Panel we work closely with NGOs and representatives of religious groups to identify countries and cases of particular concern. Our Annual Report on Human Rights highlights states which we believe to be the worst violators of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This list is by no means exhaustive, but we do not believe that a league-table approach to human rights violations would add value to the important work already undertaken by NGOs in this field. A copy of our Annual Report on Human Rights has been placed in the Library of the House.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the readmission of Yemen to the Commonwealth.

Mike O'Brien: Yemen has never been a member of the modern Commonwealth. At their Meeting in Edinburgh in 1997, Commonwealth Heads of Government considered an application from Yemen. They agreed it would be kept under review in the light of the criteria endorsed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government. We welcome Yemen's wish to meet the obligations which would be entailed by Commonwealth membership.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

1911 Census

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 10 December, Official Report, column 457W, on the Census (1911), what powers the Lord Chancellor has under the Public Records Act 1958 to release details from the 1911 census before 2011; and what conditions concerning confidentiality were agreed to by those who participated in this census.

Christopher Leslie: Section 5(1) of the 1958 Public Records Act provided for the general release of records after 50 years, and this was reduced in 1967 to 30 years. This section of the Public Records Act gives the Lord Chancellor the power to vary the normal closure period in relation to specific classes of records with the approval, or at the request, of the relevant minister.
	In 1966 the Lord Chancellor approved Instrument No.12, which sanctioned the closure of Decennial records for 100 years on the grounds that the information supplied by householders was given in strict confidence. The Open Government White paper (Cm 2290) of July 1993 recommended the retention of the 100 year closure period.
	The conditions quoted on the 1911 Census Householder's Schedule give the following assurance of confidentiality: The contents of the Schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used for proof of age, as in connection with Old Age Pensions, or for any other purpose than the preparation of Statistical Tables.

Call Centres

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that British data protection requirements apply to customer information used by call centres outside this country operated by (a) UK banks and (b) other UK financial institutions.

Christopher Leslie: Where a company established in the UK either processes personal data itself in another country or has personal data processed on its behalf under contract by a company in another country, the UK company retains full responsibility for ensuring that the processing complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Compensation Orders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) the total number and (b) the total value of compensation orders awarded by (i) magistrates' courts and (ii) Crown courts was in each criminal justice area in 2002.

Christopher Leslie: Information on the total number or the value of compensation orders awarded by magistrates' courts is not collected centrally by my Department.
	The total number and the value of compensation orders made by the Crown court in each criminal justice area for 2002 is given in the following table entitled 'Compensation Orders made and total amount, by LCJB, 2002'.
	In addition, attached the Home Office Criminal Statistics Publication (Table SI, 6(A)), which shows that in 2002, a total of 106,881 offenders were ordered to pay compensation at magistrates courts (excluding summary motoring offences).
	
		Compensation orders made by the Crown court and total amount, by LCJB, 2002
		
			 Local Criminal Justice Board Number of compensation orders made Total amount () 
		
		
			 Derbyshire 152 98,454.82 
			 Leicestershire 144 179,472.18 
			 Lincolnshire 67 68,548.96 
			 Northamptonshire 49 39,606.05 
			 Nottinghamshire 125 69,559.67 
			 Bedfordshire 73 249,971.61 
			 Cambridgeshire 94 73,438.10 
			 Essex 215 319,416.80 
			 Hertfordshire 57 66,557.85 
			 Norfolk 113 59,077.24 
			 Suffolk 72 88,959.29 
			 London Metropolitan 1,182 11,373,072.86 
			 Cleveland 152 110,066.31 
			 Durham 83 132,746.01 
			 Northumbria 160 255,430.89 
			 Cheshire 157 388,541.05 
			 Cumbria 53 21,682.43 
			 Greater Manchester 534 321,195.93 
			 Lancashire 233 247,622.39 
			 Merseyside 188 143,121.33 
			 Hampshire 274 429,798.61 
			 Kent 187 548,588.63 
			 Surrey 111 176,465.49 
			 Sussex 182 207,725.46 
			 Thames Valley 186 217,716.75 
			 Avon and Somerset 192 221,299.70 
			 Devon and Cornwall 237 387,890.73 
			 Dorset 92 142,326.96 
			 Gloucestershire 46 69,787.93 
			 Wiltshire 51 215,217.59 
			 South Wales 371 317,036.19 
			 Staffordshire 178 124,713.92 
			 Warwickshire 73 79,417.69 
			 West Mercia 143 265,274.45 
			 West Midlands 501 585,626.54 
			 Humberside 114 94,516.51 
			 North Yorkshire 57 80,119.69 
			 South Yorkshire 226 180,578.13 
			 West Yorkshire 259 240,631.82 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for Dyfed Powys and North Wales LCJB's are combined in the South Wales and Cheshire LCJB figures respectively
	
		Table S1.6 (A) Offenders ordered to pay compensation at magistrates courts by amount of compensation, offence group and average compensation(18) -- England and Wales 2002Number of offenders
		
			  Amount of compensation 
			 Offence group Total 25 and under 26 up to and including 50 51 up to and including 100 101 up to and including 150 151 up to and including 200 201 up to and including 250 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Indictable offences   
			 Violence against the person 7,754 152 948 909 669 250 371 
			 Burglary 3,515 77 399 325 251 470 159 
			 Sexual offences 253 4 27 30 20 13 9 
			 Robbery 568 1 48 26 11 143 5 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 16,667 534 1,349 1,003 592 5,321 513 
			 Fraud and forgery 4,110 357 292 229 198 937 185 
			 Criminal damage 4,731 86 503 524 306 391 194 
			 Drug offences 12  12 
			 Other indictable offences (excluding motoring offences) 1,044 41 95 78 59 63 28 
			 Motoring offences 96 5 13 13 5 2 21 
			 Total indictable offences 38,750 1,257 3,675 3,137 2,111 7,590 1,487 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring offences) 68,131 427 4,831 3,482 1,862 26,490 1,363 
			 Total all offences (excluding summary motoring offences) 106,881 1,684 8,506 6,619 3,973 34,080 2,850 
			 As sole or main penalty for all offences (excluding summary motoring offences) 7,144 127 762 640 359 866 292 
		
	
	
		
			  251 up to and including 300 301 up to and including 500 501 up to and including 750 751 up to and including 1,000 Over1,000 Average comp  
		
		
			 Violence against the person 1,076 770 196 2,206 207 231 
			 Burglary 565 330 128 747 64 208 
			 Sexual offences 52 15 2 79 2 188 
			 Robbery 178 1 5 149 1 79 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,789 922 412 2,955 277 186 
			 Fraud and forgery 614 358 193 602 145 349 
			 Criminal damage 883 383 133 1,233 95 201 
			 Drug offences 2  2 5  177 
			 Other indictable offences(excluding motoring offences) 227 68 26 336 23 253 
			 Motoring Offences 7 6 2 18 4 332 
			 Total indictable offences 6,393 2,853 1,099 8,330 818 217 
			 Summary offences (excluding motoring offences) 12,164 2,134 682 14,354 342 99 
			 Total all offences (excluding summary motoring offences) 18,557 4,987 1,781 22,684 1,160 142 
			 As sole or main penalty for all offences (excluding summary motoring offences) 1,379 530 202 1,872 115 187 
		
	
	(18) Excluding summary motoring offences

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 13 November to Lord Filkin on the release of the 1911 Census records.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to my official's letter of 24 November in which we state that a reply will be sent by 22 December 2003.

Departmental Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for the Department.

Christopher Leslie: My Department is continuing to discuss with the Home Office and others the programme of work announced by the Home Secretary on 11 November.

Electoral Commission

Denzil Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 8 December, Official Report, columns 35051W, on the Electoral Commission, how potential applicants for the position of Chair and/or member of the Electoral Commission were informed that an open competition would be held; and how many applicants indicated that they wished to be considered for the position of Chair.

Christopher Leslie: The selection process for appointments for the position of Chair and/or member of the Electoral Commission began in April 2000 with publication in the press of advertisements inviting applications to fill the posts.
	Due to the confidential nature of application forms it is not possible to state how many applicants indicated that they wished to be considered for the position of Chair.

Electoral Commission

Denzil Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, columns 35051W, on the Electoral Commission, if he will list the members of the selection panel which decided who should become Chair of the Electoral Commission.

Christopher Leslie: The members of the selection panel which decided who should become Chair of the Electoral Commission were: Elizabeth Filkin, the then Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards; Sylvia Denman, an academic lawyer specialising in equal opportunity issues; and Nigel Varney, the then Head of the Home Office Party Funding Unit. Sir David Omand, as the then Permanent Secretary at the Home Office chaired the panel.

Give as You Earn Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of staff in his Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in his Department through the scheme; and what steps he is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in his Department.

David Lammy: Currently, 534 members of staff in the Department for Constitutional Affairs contribute to charity via the Give as You Earn scheme. This represents a little over 4 per cent. of total staff in the Department. In November 2003 contributions to charity under the scheme totalled 4,839. My Department has had discussions with The Giving Campaign to determine what more can be done to encourage contributing to charity through payroll, and as a first step we are planning in co-operation with them to promote the present arrangements in the Department's staff magazine early in the New Year.

Legal Aid

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for private practice in criminal work of the consolidation of the number of solicitors' firms to be supported under the legal aid franchise.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission manages contracts with solicitors' offices which provide a comprehensive national network of quality assured legal services. The Commission is obliged by statute to ensure it achieves value for money and has therefore recently announced its intention to further develop its approach to contracting CDS services. In major urban areas, where services are often supplied through a multiplicity of relatively small contracted offices, this is likely to result in a reduction in the number of contracted offices, each undertaking greater volumes of work, but no reduction in the overall availability of services to the public. Outside the major urban areas, and particularly in rural areas, the Commission will be looking to provide arrangements which support and encourage supply in ways which recognise the need for access to quality services and the particular challenges facing solicitors in these areas.

Mental Incapacity Bill

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what account is being taken in the Draft Mental Incapacity Bill of measures to improve support for people with learning disabilities requiring help to reach decisions affecting their future health needs.

Christopher Leslie: The Draft Mental Incapacity Bill will greatly improve decision making for people with learning disabilities by setting out the key principles that everyone must be assumed to have capacity and that 'all practicable steps' must be taken to help people make their own decisions. This will provide empowerment for people with learning difficulties in all decision making.

Mental Incapacity Bill

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his plans are for the draft Bill on mental incapacity; and what his policy is on the timing of that draft Bill in relation to the revised Mental Health Bill.

Christopher Leslie: A draft Mental Incapacity Bill was scrutinised by a Joint Committee during the summer and their report was published on 28 November. My Department is working together with the Department of Health and stakeholders to consider the Committee's recommendations. We will seek to introduce the Bill in the current session of Parliament. With regard to the revised Mental Health Bill, there is no relationship between the timings of the two Bills, but I am aware that the Mental Health Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny early next week. My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Health to ensure that the proposals are consistent with each other.

Public Defender Service

David Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in expanding the role of the Public Defender Service.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission opened two further Public Defender Service offices in 2003, making a total of eight offices. There are no current plans to open further offices before the end of the four-year pilot in 2005. But the Government and the LSC have always said that the PDS provides a flexible option to deliver criminal defence services where existing provision is low, or of poor quality. We will review the future role of the PDS in the provision of criminal defence services, taking into consideration the researchers' evaluations of the PDS.

HEALTH

Aphasia

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to develop and produce accurate measures of aphasia;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to improve the quality of services available to people with aphasia;
	(3)  what steps are being taken to support services development for people with aphasia based on accurate measures of need and performance;
	(4)  what steps are being taken to improve access to speech and language therapy for aphasic people.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts have the responsibility of improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services, and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local health needs within the community including the provision of speech and language therapy. No steps are being taken centrally to develop or produce measures of either the severity of aphasia or treatment outcomes.

Chemotherapy-induced Anaemia

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received blood transfusions for chemotherapy-induced anaemia in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of patients who receive blood transfusions for chemotherapy induced anaemia is not collected centrally.

Chemotherapy-induced Anaemia

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to inform cancer patients about the alternatives to blood transfusion for chemotherapy-induced anaemia.

Melanie Johnson: There is a national patient information leaflet produced by the National Blood Service for patients who may receive a blood transfusion. The leaflet includes a section on alternatives to blood transfusionsalthough this is directed principally at surgical rather than cancer patients. When the leaflet is next reviewed consideration will be given to providing more information on other possible alternatives to blood transfusion. In addition, guidance on information provision for cancer patients will be included in the supportive and palliative care guidance currently being produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for publication next year.

Community Paediatric Service

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals of children up to the age of five years there were to the Community Paediatric Service in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and who initiated the referrals.

Stephen Ladyman: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Data about new episodes of care with the community paediatric nursing services in England are published in Patient Care in the Community, NHS Specialist Care Nursing, Summary information for 200203, Englandavailable at http://www.doh.gov.uk/kc590203.
	The data collected do not include the age of the children involved or source of referral. The table shows numbers of new episodes in the financial years 199798 to 200203.
	
		Initial contacts with community paediatric nurses, England, 199798 to 200203
		
			  Number of initial contacts 
		
		
			 199798 33,200 
			 199899 36,000 
			 19992000 37,100 
			 200001 40,200 
			 200102 41,100 
			 200203 43,600 
		
	
	Note:
	Referrals to community paediatric nurses are not necessarily the same as referrals to community paediatric serviceswhich usually relate to medical services and a different client mix.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 10 November 2003 from the hon. Member for Walsall, North, on the Royal Commission on Long Term Care, transferred to his Department from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Stephen Ladyman: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 15 December 2003.

Delayed Discharges (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of delayed discharge patients awaiting a domiciliary care package in Suffolk on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of delayed discharge patients in (a) England and (b) Suffolk West had been waiting over 28 days for a transfer of care on (i) 1 September 2003 and (ii) 1 September 2002.

Stephen Ladyman: There were nine patients in Suffolk who were delayed in hospital awaiting a domiciliary care package in their own homes at the beginning of December 2003.
	In September 2003 in England, 26.3 per cent. of patients who experienced a delayed transfer of care from hospital for a period of 28 days or over, and in Suffolk West Primary Care Trust the figure was 38.89 per cent. This compares to 34.2 per cent. in England and 46.4 per cent. in Suffolk West PCT in September 2002.

Departmental Job Losses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the results were of the Executive Agency review of job losses in his Department; and what the cost of the review was.

Rosie Winterton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, announced at the Health Select Committee on 30 October that he intends to undertake a review in 2004 of the Department's arm's length bodies. This review will embrace executive non-departmental public bodies and special health authorities as well as executive agencies.

Electronic Care Record System

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the number of doctors in practice to make up any shortfall in the NHS as the integrated care record system is introduced.

John Hutton: There will not be a need to increase the number of doctors in practice in the National Health Service as a consequence of the introduction of the integrated care record system. The system will in fact produce efficiency savings for clinicians across the NHS. For example, summaries of records will be available across the whole of the NHS along with the necessary information to support clinical decisions.
	Some of the areas where doctors will save time include:
	Summarising records which are transferred by post between general practitioner practices;
	Having to read through large quantities of unsorted information prior to conducting consultations;
	Waiting for paper based information including results to be transferred around hospitals and between trusts to facilitate clinical decisions;
	Re-typing and re-entering information which has already been captured electronically elsewhere in the NHS.

Five-a-Day Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the participants are being selected for the FACET; and what its projected total cost is.

Melanie Johnson: The impact of fruit and vegetable consumption in the 66 primary care trusts (PCTs) running Five-a-Day community initiatives is being evaluated using the Five-a-Day Consumption Evaluation Tool (FACET). The participants are being selected randomly from the electoral register for the 66 PCTS and control areas matched for multiple deprivation index. The total cost of the evaluation is estimated to be 330,000.

Five-a-Day Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the (a) logo development and (b) communications programme for the National Five-a-Day Programme.

Melanie Johnson: The Five-a-Day logo is part of a wider educational programme to provide clear and consistent information on the benefits of eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. The cost to date of developing the Five-a-Day logo and related communications, including materials for use in primary care settings throughout the national health service, has been 549,000.

Food Standards Agency

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many times in each of the last five years representatives of (a) the farming sector, (b) the food manufacturing sector, (c) the food retail sector, (d) consumer organisations, (e) academia and (f) other sectors have made presentations to the Food Standards Agency Board that are not recorded in the agency's board papers;
	(2)  how many briefing sessions not included in the agency's board papers have been held before the board of the Food Standards Agency.

Melanie Johnson: A total of 42 informal briefing sessions have been arranged for the board of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) since it established on 1 April 2000, as shown in the table.
	
		Total number of informal briefing sessions
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 9 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 8 
			 2003 15 
		
	
	It is normal practice for informal briefing sessions to include a range of stakeholders or individuals with different views or perspectives on an issue. Details of the total number of informal briefing sessions organised for the board of the FSA since it was established on 1 April 2000 are shown in the table. Also indicated is the number of times specific sectors have participated in these informal briefing sessions. The figures for other sectors include participation by Government Departments, chairs or members of expert/advisory committees, enforcement organisations, professional associations and individuals.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Total number of informal briefing sessions 9 10 8 15 
			 Including participation by the following groups:   
			 Farming sector1 
			 Food manufacturing sector1 
			 Food retail sector  2  1 
			 Consumer organisations 2 3 1 4 
			 Academia 2 1  2 
			 Other sectors 15 18 12 20 
		
	
	The board of the FSA has recently agreed to publish the topics of, and (subject to their agreement) the groups invited to participate in, future informal board briefing sessions. This information will be published with papers put to open board meetings, beginning with the board's next open meeting on 12 February 2004.

Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the amount of fraud in the NHS; and what research his Department has commissioned to estimate the level of unidentified fraud in the NHS.

John Hutton: The National Health Service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (NHS CFSMS) has an on-going programme of highly accurate risk measurement exercisesaccurate to plus or minus 1 per cent.designed to reveal levels of losses and, through repeated exercises, reductions in such losses, where they take place.
	Phase one of these exercises concentrated on patient fraud. The tables show the results.
	
		 million
		
			 Year data selected Fraud losses 
		
		
			 Pharmaceutical patient fraud 
			 199899 117 
			 19992000 69 
			 Dental patient fraud 
			 19992000 40.3 
			 200001 30 
			 Optical patient fraud 
			 19992000 13.25 
			 200102 10.17 
		
	
	A statistically valid sample of those prescriptions prescribed during March 2003 has been taken and a further measurement exercise has been completed. Further reductions in pharmaceutical patient fraud are anticipated and figures will be produced later this month.
	Phase two of the programme is now focussing on contractor fraud within the NHS. As the measurement programme extends, it will enable NHS CFSMS to accurately assess the totality of NHS fraud.
	Total patient fraud losses have reduced from approximately 170 million to 109.17 million per year, a reduction of 36 per cent. since the creation of NHS CFSin 1998.
	Fraud in the NHS is not acceptable. It deprives the NHS of the resources needed for the delivery of patient care and the continuing improvement of frontline services.

Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work the NHS counter-fraud unit is undertaking on the use of agency staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The National Health Service Counter Fraud Service, now Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), was created in 1998 with a remit to tackle fraud and corruption within the NHS. So far, it has produced a financial benefit to the NHS of more than 295 million. It works with more than 400 professionally trained and accredited local counter fraud specialists covering every health body in England and Wales.
	NHS bank and agency staff are an integral part of the NHS work force, but there is, unfortunately, a small minority of these staff who take advantage of the NHS and its resources. CFSMS have identified bank and agency timesheet fraud as a significant area of fraud and investigations, to date, have resulted in 33 criminal prosecutions. Some of the individuals involved have received terms of imprisonment ranging from nine to 21 months. Criminal prosecution is not the only action taken and CFSMS pursues a parallel sanctions policy, seeking to combine appropriate disciplinary procedures with civil action to freeze and recover assets.
	The CFMS is engaged in a national proactive exercise aimed at highlighting system and policy weaknesses in the NHS. As a result, information will be sent to the whole of the NHS in England and Wales on how to improve systems, stop the fraudulent practices that put resources at risk and prevent bank and agency staff fraud in the future. Local counter fraud specialists in NHS organisations that use bank and agency staff have been required to check agency staff records, including timesheets, uncover incidents of fraud, assess systems used to monitor agency staff and deliver fraud awareness presentations to agency staff.
	This is the first of several exercises to be developed by CFSMS that will see NHS counter fraud specialists proactively detect and investigate fraud and where necessary apply tough sanctions.

General Practitioners

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of general practitioner involvement in community hospitals over the past three years; and what assessment he has made of how such involvement is likely to change in the next five years.

John Hutton: We do not collect information centrally on the level of general practitioner involvement in community hospitals.
	Following the Choice and Opportunity consultation, we are committed to undertaking a review of the arrangements for medical staff other than consultants employed in secondary and community care environments. Details of the scope of such a review will be considered in the light of the Choice and Opportunity consultation.

Health Authority Staff

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed within each strategic health authority in England broken down by staff group.

John Hutton: Information on the number of staff employed within each strategic health authority area in England broken down by staff group as at September 2002 has been placed in the Library.

Health Protection Agency

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements in (a) fighting infection and (b) dealing with chemical and radiological health issues have resulted from the replacement of the Public Health Laboratory Service with the Health Protection Agency.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has integrated into one organisation expertise which was previously located in a number of different bodies and published its first business and corporate plan in August, which identifies a wide range of key targets for its first five years.
	Since it was created, on 1 April 2003, the HPA has set up nine regional and 36 health protection teams across the country to bring a consistent approach to public health threats, and it has provided active management or assistance in a number of health protection activities. These include: an effective contribution to the international management of severe acute respiratory syndrome; leading the investigation of and assisting in the management of a national outbreak of salmonella infection; and providing expert advice in respect of a number of chemical incidents.

Healthy Living Centres

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total funding being made available for Healthy Living centres is.

Melanie Johnson: In total, 300 million was made available by the New Opportunities Fund for healthy living centres across the United Kingdom, of which 233 million was for England.
	To date, 257 awards, worth 204 million, have been made in England.

Healthy Living Centres

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being made available for Healthy Living centres with a focus on tackling obesity.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	114 healthy living centres (167 in the United Kingdom) are providing activities covering diet and nutrition and 207 healthy living centres (282 in the UK) are offering physical and sporting activities, which contribute to tackling obesity and which support other significant preventive health objectives such as reducing the risk of cancer and type- two diabetes.

Mental Health

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with his counterparts in the Department for Education and Skills to promote awareness of links between physical and mental health in young people.

Stephen Ladyman: The children's national service framework (NSF) will provide an integrated view across all aspects of child health and development including the promotion of good physical and mental health of young people in schools and elsewhere. The Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health are working jointly on the development of the NSF.
	Ministers in the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills have many regular meetings in which they have discussed health promotion and emotional well-being. In addition, officials at both Departments meet frequently to discuss services for children.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an appointment in mental health for patients under the age of 18 in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority was in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: The tables show the average (median) waiting times for first consultant out-patient appoint following general practitioner referral for the specialty child and adolescent psychiatry. As strategic health authorities have only been in existence since April 2002, it has only been possible to provide figures for one year.
	
		Average (median) waiting times for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP referral: child  adolescent psychiatry: England
		
			  Median waiting times (weeks) 
		
		
			 199798 6.4 
			 199899 6.1 
			 19992000 5.9 
			 200001 5.2 
			 200102 6.5 
			 200203 6.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08.

Microbiologists

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many consultant microbiologist posts are vacant in the NHS, broken down by region;
	(2)  how many new consultant microbiologist posts have been created in England in each of the last six years;
	(3)  how many training posts in microbiology (a) have been filled and (b) were available in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: Vacancy data are collected by the Department of Health as three-month vacancies as at 31 March each year. These are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more.
	The table shows the number of three-month microbiology and virology consultant vacancies as at 31 March 2003, by strategic health authority.
	
		Consultant three month vacancy rate in medical microbiology and virology for England at March 2003 by strategic health authorityEngland
		
			 Strategic health authority name Vacancy rate (percentage) Number of vacancies Staff in post (WTE) 
		
		
			 England
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 0.0 0 14 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (19) 2 8 
			 Essex 11.5 1 8 
			 North West London 0.0 0 13 
			 North Central London 4.9 1 19 
			 North East London 0.0 0 14 
			 South East London 0.0 0 14 
			 South West London 8.0 1 12 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 10.5 2 17 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley (19) 0 9 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 0.0 0 11 
			 West Yorkshire 6.0 1 16 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 0.0 0 14 
			 Greater Manchester 4.9 1 20 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 0.0 0 18 
			 Thames Valley 0.0 0 17 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 0.0 0 12 
			 Kent and Medway (19) 1 4 
			 Surrey and Sussex 12.4 2 14 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 5.8 1 16 
			 South West Peninsula 0.0 0 13 
			 Dorset and Somerset (19) 0 7 
			 South Yorkshire 0.0 0 11 
			 Trent 0.0 0 14 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland (19) 0 8 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire (19) 0 8 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 4.3 1 22 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire (19) 0 10 
			 Public Health Laboratory Service 15.1 5 28 
		
	
	(19) Figures where sum of staff in post and three month vacancy are less then 10.
	Notes:
	1. Staff in post data are from the Medical and Dental Census, March 2003.
	2. Staff in post data exclude staff employed by Health Authorities, as vacancy information was only collected from Trusts, PCTs and Special Health Authorities.
	3. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	4. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of newly appointed consultants in microbiology and virology. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. Thecensus is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in the table shows the net increase in the number of microbiology and virology consultants since 1997:
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants within the medical microbiology and virology specialtyEngland
		
			  Number (headcount) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 358 
			 1998 362 
			 1999 370 
			 2000 389 
			 2001 397 
			 2002 431 
			 March 2003 425 
			 June 2003 383 
		
	
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September 1997 to 2002, 31 March 20O3 and 30 June 2003
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	The drop in the number of consultants between March and June 2003 is due to the re-categorisation of consultants to other specialties.
	Information on the number of training posts filled and available is not collected. The table shows the number of doctors in training in the specialty between September 1997 and September 2002. Numbers increased by 29 per cent. during this period.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Doctors in training within the medical microbiology and virology specialtyEngland at 30 September each year -- Number (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Doctors in training 139 136 142 141 156 179 
			 of which:   
			 Registrar Group 125 125 131 121 143 162 
			 Senior House Officer 14 11 11 20 13 17 
			 House Officer   
		
	
	Note:
	'' denotes zero
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	In 200303, central funding has been provided to support the implementation of eight additional specialist registrar (SpR) posts in microbiology and virology. Trusts also have the opportunity to locally fund up to 10 SpR training opportunities.

Midwives

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many midwives (a) left and (b) entered the profession in each of the last six years in (a) London and (b) each region; what the turnover rate was in each case; and what the average age of a practising midwife was in each case;
	(2)  what the average period was that a midwife had worked in the profession before leaving in each of the last six years, (a) in London and (b) in each region;
	(3)  what the average overtime worked by a midwife was in each of the last six years, broken down by region;
	(4)  what the three-month midwifery vacancy rates were in each of the last six years in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) Government region area; and how many staff were in post in each case, broken down by (i) whole-time equivalent and (ii) headcount;
	(5)  how many and what percentage of midwives working in the NHS were (a) full-time and (b) part-time in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 December 2003
	Information on the number of midwives leaving and entering the profession, the average period that a midwife has worked in the profession before leaving, and the average overtime worked by a midwife is not collected centrally.
	Information on the average age of a practising midwife in London and each region and the number and percentage of midwives working in the National Health Service who were full-time and part-time in each of the last six years has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the rate of vacancies for midwives lasting three months or more since 1999 by Government Office for the Region, and since 2002, the first year the data was collected by strategic health authority, and a breakdown of staff in post in each case, broken down by whole-time equivalent and headcount has also been placed in the Library.

Midwives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether student midwives will continue to have their liability for tuition fees met on their behalf by the NHS, without means testing, regardless of any increase in the level of fee.

John Hutton: Existing contracts for midwifery training between strategic health authorities and higher education institutions cover the full cost of training, including the personal tuition fee. The consultation document, Funding Learning and Development for the Healthcare Workforce, sets out our proposal for a national model contract. It is intended that this contract for national health service-funded pre-registration courses, to be introduced from 1 April 2004, will specifically prohibit the charging of top-up fees to students. If, under the proposed top-up fee arrangements, the existing tuition fee continues to be levied on students, then it will continue to be met by the NHS without means testing.

National Health Statistics

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list all the National Health statistics which the Government has decided no longer to (a) collect and (b) publish during the last three years;
	(2)  if he will publish, for each of the last six years for which figures were available, each set of national statistics which the Government has decided not to collect during the last three years;
	(3)  if he will publish, for each of the last six years for which figures are available, each set of statistics which the Government is considering no longer collecting;
	(4)  if he will list the national health statistics which the Government is considering no longer collecting or publishing; and which of these are undergoing a consultation process at present to assess the value of continuing to collect them.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 December 2003
	The Department is committed to minimising the burden on national health service and social care staff of collecting information while ensuring that information required to monitor performance and measure activity within health and social care system is available. As priorities change, statistical collections are reviewed and may be dropped or revised, or new collections may be implemented.
	The Department is currently undertaking a thorough review of NHS statistical collections to reduce the burden that the centre places on the NHS. Details of the Department's current NHS statistical collections are available on the Department's website at www. doh.gov.uk/stats/rocr. Details of NHS collections discontinued between 1997 and 2003 are shown in table 1; information on other returns and publications discontinued in the last three years are shown in tables 2 and 3.
	
		Table 1NHS collections discontinued between 1997 and 2003
		
			 Return description Reference Year lastcollected Work area 
		
		
			 GP Fundholders and Health Authority commissioning activity and continuing care returns CIC, QMX, OT 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Wheelchairs and Artificial Limbs K073 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Purchasing Intentions of NHS Trusts P1(1), P1(2) 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 NHS Performance Tables-Unit Details and data collection PT1PT2 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Summary of NHS Trust Activity QMX5 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Additional data items to be collected on waiting time returns  1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Clinical Effectiveness Monitoring CLINMON 1997 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 Contract Cost Analysis MCP700 1997 Estates 
			 Maternity Medical Services Provided by GMPs SBE504 1997 Primary care 
			 Contraceptives Services Provided by GMPs DI24 1997 Primary care 
			 Primary Care Act Pilots (PCAPS)  1997 Primary care 
			 ECRECR Tariffs ECR-ECR 1997 Finance 
			 Market Testing: Annual Returns  Result Cards EL(96)84 1997 Finance 
			 GP Fundholder Expenditure from Savings During year and Savings Available to Spend PC105, PC106 1997 Finance 
			 Plan Memorandum Information T8P 1997 Finance 
			 Trust Funds returns TAC101109 1997 Finance 
			 Monitoring Local Pay LPNMIa 1997 Workforce 
			 Public Sector Payment Policy Performance (T)(6) 1998 Finance 
			 Cash Flow Forecast T7P 1998 Finance 
			 Abolition of HFR20 -Payments made from the joint finance allocation  1999 Finance 
			 Professional Advice and Support Programmes: Maternity Services (KC54) KC54 2000 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 HFR Summary Return of Patient Activity KP70 2000 Hospital and Community Activity 
			 General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) losses and Recoveries  2000 Primary care 
			 GP Fundholding Budget and Expenditure PC101 to 04 2000 Finance 
			 Monitoring of Delayed Discharges CCMON 2000 Miscellaneous 
			 Availability of Dentistry: Quarterly monitoring report A6 2001 Primary care 
			 Clinical Psychology Services KT24 2003 Hospital and Community Activity 
		
	
	
		Table 2Other statistical collections discontinued
		
			  Last collected 
		
		
			 RH(N) Nursing care homes 31 March 2001 
			 RA Residential homes 31 March 2001 
			 Registration and inspection survey (number of home closures, etc.) 200001 
			 Mid year data for seven Social Services Performance Framework (PAF) indicators 200203 
		
	
	
		Table 3Statistical publications discontinued in the last three years
		
			  Last published 
		
		
			 Activity, workload and resources of local authorities, health authorities and joint inspection clients; summary results of a survey in England 19992000 
			 Community maternity services (KC54) 19992000 
			 Residential Personal Social Services for adults (part now published as supported residents) 200001 
			 Private Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Clinics 200001 
			 Clinical psychology services (KT24) 200203

Patient Deterioration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the extent to which patients suffer deterioration in their disease prior to having an operation in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Europe and (c) the United States.

John Hutton: The Department has not directly commissioned such research, however, it has helped to initiate and is an active participant in a two year international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development project on waiting times for elective surgery.

Nurses

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of nurses per 100 beds was in (a) England and (b) the West Suffolk NHS Trust in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table. Since 1997, the average number of nurses to every 100 beds in England has increased from 151 to 189 in 2002. In West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust, the number has increased from 100 to 127 in the same period.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff per one hundred 'total available beds' in England and the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year
		
			  England West Suffolk HospitalsNHS Trust 
			  Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 199697 151 124 100 72 
			 199798 157 128 86 64 
			 199899 163 132 107 79 
			 19992000 170 138 110 81 
			 200001 178 143 121 93 
			 200102 189 152 127 97 
		
	
	Notes
	Figures are rounded to the nearest whole-number
	The 'total available beds' figure is the daily number of open and staffed beds on wards open overnight in NHS hospitals in England.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census. 'Total available beds' figures are submitted annually on form KH03 by each NHS Trust

Obesity

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects being funded by his Department to tackle obesity.

Melanie Johnson: The Department are leading on developing a Food and Health Action Plan, which will shape, co-ordinate and drive action to improve public health in England through better diet. Action on physical activity will be guided by an activity co-ordination team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These two initiatives will be of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity and will provide the overall strategy.
	Projects funded by the Department which contribute to tackling obesity include:
	79 practice based projects to increase breast feeding and the annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
	the reform of the Welfare Food Scheme
	the Food in Schools programme
	the communications strand of the Five-a-Day Programme
	resources by non-Governmental organisations, including the British Dietetic Association Weight Wise website and Weight Concern's toolkit on obesity and guidance for health professionals for family-based behavioural treatment for childhood obesity
	work with industry to address the sugar, fat and salt content of the diet
	local exercise action pilots
	the distribution of pedometers via general practitioner practices
	the National School Fruit Scheme.
	Primary care trusts allocate funding from their own devolved budgets to deliver national targets and milestones and to meet local priorities, including work relating to diet, physical activity and obesity.

Orthopists

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of orthopists needed in the Health Service by 2006.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 December 2003
	Separate information is not collected in the non-medical workforce census on the number of orthopists employed in the National Health Service. The Delivering the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and scientists by 30,000 by 2008, over 2001 levels, includes orthotists as does the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and other key professional staff by 4,450 by 2004 over 1999 levels.
	There is only one course in England for prosthetists and orthopists that is commissioned by Cumbria and Lancashire Working Development Confederation. In 200203, there were 30 training places with 32 forecast for 200304.

Paediatricians

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant paediatricians have left the NHS in each of the last six years; and for what reasons.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data centrally on, or reasons for, the number of leavers in the national health service.
	As part of the Department's recruitment and retention strategy, we are taking forward a programme of work to address key issues of concern to the medical profession. This programme of work is part of the Improving Working Lives initiative, which enables all staff, including consultants to strike a better balance between work and other aspects of their life outside work.

Prisoners

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the 200203 budget for mental health in-reach work in prisons is dedicated specifically to women prisoners.

Stephen Ladyman: In 200203, 3,375,000 was made available for National Health Service mental health in-reach services in prison establishments in England, of which 425,000, or 12.5 per cent., was for services at six establishments holding only women. The comparable figures for 200304 are 9,400,000 and 903,000, or 9.6 per cent., at 11 establishments.

Prisoners

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure a consistent structure of oversight for prisoners' healthcare during the transfer of responsibility from HM Prison Service to the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: In addition to routine performance monitoring by the Prison Service, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the independent monitoring boards at individual establishments oversee prisoners' healthcare. The Commission for Health Improvement's (CHI) responsibility for conducting reviews and investigations of healthcare extends to health services for prisoners commissioned or provided by National Health Service bodies. The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAD will succeed CHI from April 2004.
	Transfer of responsibility for commissioning health services for prisoners to NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) is due to begin in selected locations from April 2004, leading to full devolution of prison health resources to PCTs by the end of March 2006. As this process develops, prisoners' healthcare will come within the ambit of the normal NHS monitoring systems. We are considering with HM Inspectorate of Prisons and CHAI how the external inspection arrangements for prison health services should develop in the light of these changes.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the funding levels were for the Public Health Laboratory Service in each of the six years before its abolition; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The funding levels for the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) in each of the six years in question are shown in the table.
	
		(000)
		
			  Revenue Capital Total  
		
		
			 200203 62,867 4,337 67,206 
			 200102 58,207 5,355 63,562 
			 200001 58,423 3,695 62,118 
			 1 9992000 59,211 3,924 63,135 
			 1 99899 58,321 2,030 60,351 
			 199798 56,385 3,239 59,624 
		
	
	Source
	PHLS audited published annual accounts.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the regional networks of microbiology laboratories were disbanded.

Melanie Johnson: The Public Health Laboratory Service's regional network of microbiology laboratories has been replaced by the Health Protection Agency's (HPA) local and regional services division, which has a network of eight regional laboratories. This is supported by more than 300 National Health Service microbiology pathology laboratories across the country. The HPA has regional microbiologists (a newly created post in microbiology), who, working with regional epidemiologists and local communicable disease control teams, ensure that the public health outputs of the laboratories in their regions are maintained. This is a more comprehensive coverage of the public health needs across the country than was previously possible, filling some of the surveillance gaps identified by the Chief Medical Officer in his strategy for combating infectious diseases, Getting Ahead of the Curve.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether premature babies discharged from Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital in the last three months who were given the first course of their preventive treatment for respiratory syncytial virus will continue to receive that treatment by the hospital until their course is completed.

John Hutton: Guy's and St Thomas' National Health Service Hospital Trust has confirmed that all babies who meet the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) criteria for preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), including those for whom a programme has already been initiated, will have their full course of injections provided by the hospital. The protocol in use is the same as that used by other neonatal units in the Region.
	A second group of eight babies, who do not fulfil the criteria set out by the JCVI, were given the first dose at the hospital. The trust has reviewed the evidence and guidelines for this group in discussion with primary care trusts (PCTs) and parents, and is deciding on a case-by-case basis whether or not to continue the treatment.
	The trust has agreed with PCTs that it will not commence any new RSV courses which fall outside the current criteria without prior agreement with the regional specialist on infectious disease and agreement with the PCTs on funding for the whole course.

Self-administered Treatments

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his policy is towards new treatments which allow patients to self-administer at home;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to help patients access new treatments which allow them to self-administer their treatment at home when recommended by their clinician.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's policy is to promote self-care and give patients greater control over their treatment. On 9 December, we published Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS. This document broadly sets out how we need to make the national health service more responsive to patients by offering more choice across the spectrum of health care. Redesigning services around the wishes and choices of different groups of service users will improve access to care and treatment and reduce health inequalities.

Speech and Language Therapists

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether speech and language therapy undergraduates will be charged top-up fees from 2006.

John Hutton: Existing contracts between strategic health authorities and higher education institutions cover the full cost of training and top-up fees are not charged. The consultation document, Funding Learning and Development for the Healthcare Workforce, sets out our proposal for a national model contract. It is intended that this contract for National Health Service-funded pre-registration courses, which will include speech and language therapy undergraduates, to be introduced from 1 April 2004, will specifically prohibit the charging of top-up fees to students.

Tuberculosis

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, columns 31920W, on tuberculosis, what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons for the increase in TB cases; what steps are being taken to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not commissioned any research into the increase in tuberculosis cases. Within any given area, the number of notified cases fluctuates from year-to-year. The number of cases of tuberculosis notified nationally declined until the mid-1980s, but has been generally rising since then. The fluctuations in the number of tuberculosis cases in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area are not considered to have any additional significance beyond the national trends. At a local level, health professionals are constantly monitoring any cases and keeping the situation under general surveillance.
	The Department ran a national tuberculosis awareness campaign in 2002. This aimed to increase the awareness of tuberculosis, encourage early access to diagnosis and treatment and reduce delays in diagnosis and completion of treatment and encourage early diagnosis for cases of active tuberculosis and preventative measures. As a result of the campaign and improved surveillance, both detection and diagnosis of the condition has improved.